ТРАНСФОРМАЦІЯ РОЛІ ЄВРОПЕЙСЬКОГО ПАРЛАМЕНТУ В ПОЛІТИЦІ ЄВРОПЕЙСЬКОГО СОЮЗУ В ІСТОРИЧНІЙ РЕТРОСПЕКТИВІ

The article highlights the transformation of the European Parliament’s (EP) role in the policy of the European Union (EU) against the background of the existing challenges. It is noted that the EP is the only supranational representative institution in the world, and the scope of its powers in the EU policy has been constantly growing. It is shown that fundamental changes began with the pan-European direct elections of 1979. Milestones on the path to increasing the role of the EP were the Maastricht (1992), Amsterdam (1997), Nice (2001) and Lisbon (2007) Treaties. Among the EP’s principles there are a toolkit for assessing the human rights and democracy in countries, the principle of digressive proportionality in the distribution of member states’ seats, and the unification of deputies according to the political group ideology. Today, the EP has the authority to participate in the appointment of the President of the Commission and Commissioners, members of the European Court of Auditors and the Ombudsman. Levers of influence include the right to address the European Commission with a request to submit a legislative proposal; making decisions on the EU budget together with the Council, etc. It is proven that the sharing of powers with the Council is a display of the democratic exercise of power in the EU, which provides for a balance of representation at the levels of citizens, countries and the EU. The trend of increasing voter turnout in the EP elections in 2019 and 2024 is shown. The conclusion is made about the authority of the EP among citizens, who see it as a guarantee of the sustainability of democratic traditions and European unity.