The European Parliament has the final say over a wide range of European Union legislative, budgetary and oversight decisions, which affect the lives of the nearly 500 million people living in the 27-member bloc.  

LEGISLATIVE POWERS: Parliament shares legislative powers equally with the Council of the European Union. This means it is empowered to adopt European laws, directives and regulations.

It can accept, amend, or reject the content of European legislation proposed by the Council, or the European Commission. More specifically, it can legislate on issues, such as the free movement of workers, education, market policies and environmental protection.

Parliament has only a "consultative" role on judicial issues, foreign policy, taxation, industrial policy and in agricultural affairs, but EU member states are not bound to follow the parliament's opinion.