What are MEPs?

Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are EU citizens’ direct representatives in the European Parliament. They perform many of the same functions as national politicians, relating to EU policy and legislation. Collectively, they have a lot of power over EU legislation, as the Parliament legislates alongside the Council of the EU and both institutions’ approval is needed for proposals to become law. UK MEPs stepped down when the UK left the EU on 31 January 2020.