Former Vice-President of the Luxembourg Socialist Workers’ Party (LSAP), Jacques F. Poos, MEP, uncompromisingly summarises the role and operation of the Party of European Socialists compared with the Socialist Group in the European Parliament.

Rapport fait au nom de la Commission du Règlement de l'Assemblée commune, des Pétitions et des Immunités, sur l'insertion dans le Règlement d'une disposition relative à la constitution des Groupes politiques, par M. Paul Struye, Rapporteur. L'existence de groupes politiques au sein de l'Assemblée commune de la CECA rend nécessaire l'insertion dans son règlement intérieur d'une disposition les concernant.

Common Assembly Resolution of 16 June 1953, incorporating a provision relating to the formation of political groups into the Rules of Procedure.

Statement of formation of the Christian-Democratic Group as a faction in the Common Assembly of the European Coal and Steel Community, dated 23 June 1953.

In 1953, three political groups are formed in the Common Assembly of the European Coal and Steel Community: the Christian-Democratic Group, the Socialist Group and the Liberal Group.

On 19 March 1958, at the first session of the European Parliamentary Assembly in Strasbourg, the Christian Democrat Group is reconstituted within the new single assembly for the three European Communities.

Cet article du quotidien belge L'Écho de la Bourse se propose de montrer quels sont les grands courants politiques devant animer le Parlement européen après les élections du 10 juin 1979.

Article paru dans le quotidien français Le Figaro juste après les élections au Parlement européen du 10 juin 1979.

The Italian left-wing daily newspaper l’Unità outlines the political implications involved during the formation of political groups following the June 2004 elections to the European Parliament.

List of the political groups formed following the European elections of June 2004. In July 2004, there are seven political groups.

List of the political groups formed following the European elections of June 2009. In July 2009, there are seven political groups.

Distribution of seats at the European Parliament by political group (1979).

Distribution of seats at the European Parliament by political group (1984).

Distribution of seats at the European Parliament by political group (1989).

Distribution of seats at the European Parliament by political group (1994).

Distribution of seats at the European Parliament by political group (1999).

Distribution of seats at the European Parliament by political group (2004).

Distribution of seats in the European Parliament by political group in 2009.

Joseph Daul, Chair of the Group of the European People's Party and European Democrats (EPP-ED).

Francesco Enrico Speroni, Co-Chair of the Europe of Freedom and Democracy Group (EFD).

Nigel Farage, Co-President of the Europe of Freedom and Democracy Group (EFD).

Hannes Swoboda, Chair of the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament (S&D), formerly known as the Group of the Party of European Socialists (PES).

Guy Verhofstadt, Chair of the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE).

Daniel Cohn-Bendit, Co-Chair of the Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance (Greens/EFA).

Rebecca Harms, Co-Chair of the Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance (Greens/EFA).

Monica Frassoni, Co-Chair of the Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance (Greens/EFA).

Gabi Zimmer, Chair of the Confederal Group of the European United Left/Nordic Green Left (GUE/NGL).

Martin Callanan, Chair of the European Conservatives and Reformist Group (ECR).

In this interview, Jacques F. Poos, MEP, outlines the role of the political groups in the internal operation of the European Parliament.

In this interview excerpt, Willy Claes, Belgian Minister for Economic Affairs from 1973 to 1974, from 1977 to 1982 and from 1988 to 1992, Foreign Minister from 1992 to 1994 and President of the Party of European Socialists (PES) from 1992 to 1994, emphasises the importance, for the development of the European Parliament itself, of public funding for European political parties and their recognition in the treaties. Claes also discusses the European political party summits held prior to European Councils and the part they play in subsequent decisions taken at Community level.

In this interview excerpt, Willy Claes, Belgian Minister for Economic Affairs from 1973 to 1974, from 1977 to 1982 and from 1988 to 1992, Foreign Minister from 1992 to 1994 and President of the Party of European Socialists (PES) from 1992 to 1994, describes his memories of the establishment of the PES at the Hague Congress in 1992, the difficulties within the party caused by differences of opinion and the role of European political parties.

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.

This film, dated 17 December 2013, explains the operation and role of political groups within the European Parliament.