Sir, - Your European Correspondent Patrick Smyth (The Irish Times, May 8th), writing on the future evolution of the European Parliament's powers, suggests that "it is still only half a real Parliament."
In fact it has more power than many national parliaments. With the coming into force of the Amsterdam Treaty on May 1st, EU laws in 40 different domains will be enacted jointly and equally by Parliament (representing all EU citizens) and the Council (representing the 15 member-state governments). The EU budget is considerably modified by, and is subject to final approval by, Parliament.
Parliament votes the President of the Commission and the Commission as a whole into Office. It then supervises the Commission as it implements EU policies and, as recent events have shown, it can act decisively in this respect.
Parliament deals annually with close to 1,500 petitions from citizens who consider they have been adversely affected by EU decisions. Finally, it debates and adopts resolutions on matters of general and/or urgent public concern. These resolutions are sent to the Council, the Commission and to national Parliaments and have an important influence on the development of EU policy. - Yours, etc.,
Jim O'Brien, Head of Office, European Parliament Office, Molesworth Street, Dublin 2