The European Parliament, as one of the principal institutions of the European Union, occupies a unique position within the EU’s institutional framework. It serves as the only directly elected body representing the citizens of the member states, providing democratic legitimacy to the Union’s legislative and supervisory activities. Established initially as the Common Assembly of the European Coal and Steel Community in 1952, the Parliament has evolved significantly through successive treaties, notably the Single European Act, the Maastricht Treaty, the Amsterdam Treaty, the Nice Treaty, and the Lisbon Treaty. These reforms expanded both its legislative powers and its role in the EU’s broader political landscape. Constitutionally, the European Parliament derives its authority from the Treaties of the European Union, particularly Articles 223 to 234 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) and related provisions in the Treaty on European Union (TEU). The Lisbon Treaty notably strengthened the Parliament’s role by enhancing its co-decision powers, now referred to as the ordinary legislative procedure, which places it on an almost equal footing with the Council of the European Union in the legislative process. The Parliament is composed of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), elected every five years through proportional representation systems adopted by individual member states. As of the latest elections, the Parliament comprises 705 MEPs representing over 447 million citizens across the 27 member states, reflecting the EU’s commitment to representational democracy. The role of the European Parliament is multifaceted, encompassing legislative, supervisory, and budgetary functions. Its legislative role has grown progressively, particularly after the Lisbon Treaty, which introduced the ordinary legislative procedure. Under this procedure, the Parliament shares equal responsibility with the Council in adopting EU legislation on matters such as the internal market, environmental policies, consumer protection, and civil rights. The Parliament also has the power to propose amendments to legislation, reject proposals, and engage in trilogue negotiations with the Council and