DISINFO: European Parliament is a circus with no power
SUMMARY
Despite the economic difficulties experienced by the whole world, including Russia, the majority of Russian citizens remain loyal to the social contract, under which Vladimir Putin guarantees the stability and gradual development of the country in return for popular support.
Against this background, the European Parliament adopted a report calling for the non-recognition of the election results in Russia.
It is no secret that the European Parliament is a circus with no power in the European Union, but designed to serve fantasies of European unity. The lack of influence on the practical decisions of the European Commission makes the members of this parliament take the most extreme and inappropriate decisions. However, given the new offensive launched by the West against Russia, this approach can find support in the capitals of a number of United States' European allies.
RESPONSE
This is a recurrent pro-Kremlin narrative questioning the EU institutions' legitimacy and powers.
The European Parliament is one of the EU's two law-making bodies. It has constitutional-type and ratification powers. It passes EU laws, together with the Council of the EU, based on European Commission proposals. It has budgetary powers, scrutiny over the executive, hears citizens’ petitions, and appoints the European Ombudsman. A detailed overview of the European Parliament’s role in the European decision-making process can be consulted here. As EU co-operation evolved with time, the European Parliament progressed from a purely advisory role to one of co-decision on an equal footing with the Council. The Lisbon Treaty expanded the number of policies which are subject to ordinary legislative procedure to virtually all areas including the areas of freedom, security and justice, external trade, environmental policy and the common agricultural policy.
In line with its competences, on 16 September 2021 the European Parliament adopted a recommendation to the Council, the Commission and the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on the direction of EU-Russia political relations, generating this attempt to minimise its role in in the EU's decision making process.
See similar stories that the European Parliament has no powers in the EU, that the European Parliament has no effect on the EU Commission, that the European Parliament decides practically nothing in the EU, and that the European Parliament does not have real powers.
This claim appeared in the same article as the claim that provocations and protests organized by Western structures in Russia ended in failure.