How powerful is the European Parliament?

The European Parliament has a complex structure. Voters in member countries elect an MEP for their constituency: dozens of national and European parties are represented. Many of them join a continental political group, of which there are currently seven. The biggest is the centre-right European People’s Party (EPP). Its centre-left equivalent is the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D). There are also groups for liberals, greens, soft Eurosceptics, the hard right and the hard left (read our guide to all seven).