European Parliament Former Members Association

Last updated June 11, 2019

The European Parliament Former Members Association is an Association of former members of the European Parliament, involved in promoting the European Parliament and the European Union, as well as election monitoring, among other activities.^[1]

The European Parliament (EP) is the only parliamentary institution of the European Union (EU) that is directly elected by EU citizens aged 18 or older. Together with the European Commission and the Council of the European Union it exercises the tripartite legislative function of the European Union. The Parliament is composed of 751 members (MEPs), intended to become 705 starting from the 2019–2024 legislature because of specific provisions adopted about Brexit, who represent the second-largest democratic electorate in the world and the largest trans-national democratic electorate in the world.

The European Union (EU) is a political and economic union of 28 member states that are located primarily in Europe. It has an area of 4,475,757 km² (1,728,099 sq mi) and an estimated population of about 513 million. The EU has developed an internal single market through a standardised system of laws that apply in all member states in those matters, and only those matters, where members have agreed to act as one. EU policies aim to ensure the free movement of people, goods, services and capital within the internal market, enact legislation in justice and home affairs and maintain common policies on trade, agriculture, fisheries and regional development. For travel within the Schengen Area, passport controls have been abolished. A monetary union was established in 1999 and came into full force in 2002 and is composed of 19 EU member states which use the euro currency.

Election monitoring is the observation of an election by one or more independent parties, typically from another country or a non-governmental organization (NGO), primarily to assess the conduct of an election process on the basis of national legislation and international election standards. There are national and international election observers. Monitors do not directly prevent electoral fraud, but rather record and report such instances. Election observation increasingly looks at the entire electoral process over a longer period of time, rather than at election-day proceedings only. The legitimacy of an election can be affected by the criticism of monitors, provided that they are themselves seen as unbiased. A notable individual is often appointed honorary leader of a monitoring organization in an effort to enhance its own legitimacy.

History

The European Parliament Former Members Association (commonly known as the Former Members Association, or the FMA), was established in 2001,with assistance and support from the European Parliament.^[1] The roles of the organization include the promotion of the European Parliament and the European Union, which activities are generally carried out with the support of the European Commission, universities and other organizations.^[1]

The European Commission (EC) is an institution of the European Union, responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the EU treaties and managing the day-to-day business of the EU. Commissioners swear an oath at the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg City, pledging to respect the treaties and to be completely independent in carrying out their duties during their mandate. Unlike in the Council of the European Union, where members are directly and indirectly elected, and the European Parliament, where members are directly elected, the Commissioners are proposed by the Council of the European Union, on the basis of suggestions made by the national governments, and then appointed by the European Council after the approval of the European Parliament.

A major initiative of the Former Members Association was that of co-founding the International Election Monitors Institute, in 2006. Other co-founding member associations were the Canadian Association of Former Parliamentarians and the United States Association of Former Members of Congress.^[2]

The International Election Monitors Institute is an association of former Members of the United States Congress, the Canadian Parliament and the European Parliament, "to provide former legislators as election observers to operate worldwide in collaboration with other democracy-building organizations".

The Canadian Association of Former Parliamentarians (CAFP) is a non-profit organization, established by an Act of the Parliament of Canada, the membership of which is composed of former members of the Senate or House of Commons of Canada.

FMC, the Association of Former Members of Congress is a non-partisan, non-profit organization of over 500 former Members of the United States Congress.

The Association also conducts the "EP to Campus" program, which was initiated in 2006. Universities can apply to the program, which enables the university to benefit from the expertise of a former Member of the European Parliament. The former Member of the European Parliament typically spends a week at the host university, as a resource person contributing to knowledge of the European Union and the European Parliament.^[3]

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References

1 2 3 European Parliament Former Members Association, Introduction. Retrieved 2011-08-25.
↑ European Parliament Former Members Association, About The FMA. Retrieved 2011-08-30.
↑ European University Association, Universities can apply for the European Parliament (EP) to Campus Program. "News", June 23, 2011. Retrieved 2011-08-30.

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[introduction-1] 1 2 3 European Parliament Former Members Association, Introduction. Retrieved 2011-08-25.

[2] European Parliament Former Members Association, About The FMA. Retrieved 2011-08-30.

[3] European University Association, Universities can apply for the European Parliament (EP) to Campus Program. "News", June 23, 2011. Retrieved 2011-08-30.