In this interview excerpt, Gérard Deprez, Member of the European Parliament from 1984 to 1999 (European People’s Party (EPP)), from 1999 to 2004 (Citizens’ Movement for Change (MCC)), from 2004 to 2009 and since 2014 (Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE)), gives his views on the empowerment of the European Parliament, how the institution is perceived by the general public, elections to Parliament — particularly the low voter turnout — and its role and seat. He calls for a reform of elections to the European Parliament and for a single seat for the institution.

In this interview excerpt, Gérard Deprez, Member of the European Parliament from 1984 to 1999 (European People’s Party (EPP)), from 1999 to 2004 (Citizens’ Movement for Change (MCC)), from 2004 to 2009 and since 2014 (Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE)), discusses the impact of the successive European Union enlargements on the European Parliament, particularly in terms of the languages used and the political groups.

In this interview excerpt, Gérard Deprez, Member of the European Parliament from 1984 to 1999 (European People’s Party (EPP)), from 1999 to 2004 (Citizens’ Movement for Change (MCC)), from 2004 to 2009 and since 2014 (Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE)), describes the gradual increase in the powers of the European Parliament within the EU institutional triangle and the impact of this empowerment on the Members of the European Parliament and their working methods.

In this interview excerpt, Gérard Deprez, Member of the European Parliament from 1984 to 1999 (European People’s Party (EPP)), from 1999 to 2004 (Citizens’ Movement for Change (MCC)), from 2004 to 2009 and since 2014 (Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE)), describes the differences between the operation of the European Parliament and national parliaments. He also discusses the development of lobbying within the European Parliament from 1984 onwards.

In this interview excerpt, Gérard Deprez, Member of the European Parliament from 1984 to 1999 (European People’s Party (EPP)), from 1999 to 2004 (Citizens’ Movement for Change (MCC)), from 2004 to 2009 and since 2014 (Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE)), discusses the most notable fields in which the European Parliament’s powers have increased since the entry into force of the Treaty of Maastricht on 1 November 1993.

In this interview excerpt, Gérard Deprez, Member of the European Parliament from 1984 to 1999 (European People’s Party (EPP)), from 1999 to 2004 (Citizens’ Movement for Change (MCC)), from 2004 to 2009 and since 2014 (Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE)) and a member of the Committee on Budgets from 1984 to 1987 and from 2004 to 2009, shares his thoughts on the impact of the extension of the European Parliament’s powers, particularly its role as co-legislator and its joint decision-making powers on budget issues, on the strategic relationships between the political groups in Parliament, especially between the two most powerful groups, the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament (S&D) and the Group of the European People’s Party (EPP). He also describes the considerable influence of rapporteurs in their respective political groups and explains how they are appointed.

In this interview excerpt, Gérard Deprez, Member of the European Parliament from 1984 to 1999 (European People’s Party (EPP)), from 1999 to 2004 (Citizens’ Movement for Change (MCC)), from 2004 to 2009 and since 2014 (Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE)), describes the work and results of the Convention on the Future of Europe from 2002 to 2003. He emphasises the fact that this European Convention was requested by the European Parliament.

In this interview excerpt, Gérard Deprez, Member of the European Parliament from 1984 to 1999 (European People’s Party (EPP)), from 1999 to 2004 (Citizens’ Movement for Change (MCC)), from 2004 to 2009 and since 2014 (Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE)), gives his views on the use of referendums to ratify the European Constitutional Treaty. He also discusses the difficulty of holding referendums in each European Union Member State, since in some countries this method of direct consultation is not possible; in Belgium, for example, it is not provided for in the constitution.

In this interview excerpt, Gérard Deprez, Member of the European Parliament from 1984 to 1999 (European People’s Party (EPP)), from 1999 to 2004 (Citizens’ Movement for Change (MCC)), from 2004 to 2009 and since 2014 (Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE)), shares his thoughts on the lack of recognition of the work carried out by Members of Parliament at both national and European level with responsibility for international affairs. He adds that, in his view, Members of Parliament can overcome this lack of recognition by working hard individually and making significant contributions.

In this interview excerpt, Gérard Deprez, Member of the European Parliament from 1984 to 1999 (European People’s Party (EPP)), from 1999 to 2004 (Citizens’ Movement for Change (MCC)), from 2004 to 2009 and since 2014 (Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE)), lists the Members of the European Parliament who he believes have played a significant role. He mentions Altiero Spinelli, Member of the European Commission from 1970 to 1976 (with responsibility for industrial policy and research) and Member of the European Parliament from 1976 to 1986, Jacques Delors, Member of the European Parliament from 1979 to 1981 and President of the European Commission from 1985 to 1995, Fernand Herman, Member of the European Parliament from 1979 to 1999, Simone Veil, Member of the European Parliament from 1979 to 1993 and President of the European Parliament from 1979 to 1982, Jean-Louis Bourlanges, Member of the European Parliament from 1989 to 2005, Valéry Giscard d’Estaing, Member of the European Parliament from 1989 to 1993, Alain Lamassoure, Member of the European Parliament since 1989, Hans-Gert Pöttering, Member of the European Parliament from 1979 to 2014, Chairman of the EPP Group from 1999 to 2007 and President of the European Parliament from 2007 to 2009, and Daniel Cohn-Bendit, Member of the European Parliament from 1994 to 2014.

In this interview excerpt, Gérard Deprez, Member of the European Parliament from 1984 to 1999 (European People’s Party (EPP)), from 1999 to 2004 (Citizens’ Movement for Change (MCC)), from 2004 to 2009 and since 2014 (Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE)), describes the circumstances surrounding the resignation en bloc of the Santer Commission in 1999. He also mentions the role played by Édith Cresson, a Member of the Santer Commission with responsibility for Science, Research and Development, in this affair.