European Parliament groups

In Brussels, the members of European Parliament (MEPs) don't divide themselves up along strict national party lines. Instead they form groups of like-minded parliamentarians from all across Europe. But these factions don't work quite like the parties and coalitions in national governments.

"There's no requirement to vote with the group," explained Graham Watson, leader of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in Europe. "We discuss a decision a lot in advance, but if an MEP can't go along with the decision, he can vote with the Social Democrats or the Conservatives without any problems – even against the majority of the group."

Altogether there are seven parliamentary groups and about 30 MEPs who are not part of any faction.

EPP-ED

This group encompasses the center-right political parties including Christian Democrats, Conservatives and People's Parties across Europe. The European People's Party-European Democrats has been the largest political group in European Parliament since 1999 and is the only group with members from all 27 EU countries, according to the group's Web site. The group aims to position itself as the "political center" in Europe.

PES

The Socialist Group in the European Parliament (PSE), represents left-of-center members of the European Parliament. It is the second largest political group and is currently led by Germany's Martin Schulz. The party aims to create “The New Social Europe” in which there would be a higher level of cooperation on issues such as creating better jobs.

ALDE

ALDE, the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, is most often thought of as a free-market liberal group advocating limited government. Yet it includes a range of center-right and center-left liberal parties. ALDE is the third largest group and is led by Graham Watson, a Liberal Democrat from the United Kingdom.

UEN

Union for Europe of the Nations is a right-wing faction dominated by members from Poland and Italy. The Irish Republican Party Fianna Fail belonged to the group until earlier this year, when it voted to break away because of the Euroskeptic nature of other UEN members.

Greens-EFA

The Greens and European Free Alliance form a group in the European Parliament. The EFA represents so-called “stateless nations” which are generally center or center-left in political orientation. The Greens have traditionally focused on environmental and social justice issues.

GUE-NGL

The European United Left-Nordic Green Left has members from 13 European countries in the European Parliament. The group consists of communist, eco-socialist and democratic socialist parties. It opposes the EU's current setup and advocates for changing institutions to make them “fully democratic.”

IND-DEM

Independence-Democracy is a group of Euroskeptic parties with heavy representation from the United Kingdom and Poland. The group is opposed to granting further powers to the European Union and the UK's Independence Party advocates the complete withdrawal of Britain from the EU.

NI

Non-inscrits are parliamentarians who do not belong to any of the other groups. Independent members do not have access to state funding and cannot hold committee seats. This is the home of many of the European Parliaments far-right members, including Jean-Marie Le Pen of France's National Front.

Trinity Hartman/Holly Fox

Editor: Chuck Penfold