Types of delegations
All Parliament's delegations reach out to parliamentarians in other countries, regions and organisations. But just how and where they meet depends on which type of delegation they are.
Parliamentary assemblies
One group of delegations participates in parliamentary assemblies - regular, formal meetings that bring together elected representatives from several parliaments. The European Parliament's delegation is just one of several at these assemblies.
In most cases, the European Parliament's delegation is the largest single delegation at the assembly, with MEPs accounting for about half the total number of delegates. However, in some parliamentary assemblies, the European Parliament's representatives are in the minority.
Examples of parliamentary assemblies include the Delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (DNAT) and the Delegation to the Euro-Latin America Parliamentary Assembly (DLAT).
Interparliamentary committees
Parliament's delegations to interparliamentary committees meet their counterparts in regular, formal meetings. Most of these interparliamentary committees are bilateral: they involve the European Parliament and one other delegation, usually from a single country.
Interparliamentary committees may be called Parliamentary Association Committees, Parliamentary Cooperation Committees, Joint Parliamentary Committees or Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committees, depending on a number of factors.
All these committees are created by bilateral agreements between the EU and the partner country or region. The meetings follow strict rules of procedure.
In the 2019-2024 term, Parliament had 15 delegations that participated in 23 interparliamentary committees. Examples include the Delegation to the EU-Mexico Joint Parliamentary Committee (D-MX) and the Delegation to the EU-Ukraine Parliamentary Association Committee (D-UA).
Other interparliamentary delegations
The largest group of delegations focuses on relations with another country, or sometimes with a group of countries.
Members of these delegations meet their fellow legislators in ordinary interparliamentary meetings. The frequency of these meetings can vary according to the schedules and availability of the two partners. These meetings do not have their own rules, although they still adhere to the general provisions for delegations established by the European Parliament.
Most of Parliament's delegations fall into this category of interparliamentary delegations. Two examples are the Delegation for relations with Japan (D-JP) and the Delegation for relations with Canada (D-CA).
Parliamentary assemblies
One group of delegations participates in parliamentary assemblies - regular, formal meetings that bring together elected representatives from several parliaments. The European Parliament's delegation is just one of several at these assemblies.
In most cases, the European Parliament's delegation is the largest single delegation at the assembly, with MEPs accounting for about half the total number of delegates. However, in some parliamentary assemblies, the European Parliament's representatives are in the minority.
Examples of parliamentary assemblies include the Delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (DNAT) and the Delegation to the Euro-Latin America Parliamentary Assembly (DLAT).
Interparliamentary committees
Parliament's delegations to interparliamentary committees meet their counterparts in regular, formal meetings. Most of these interparliamentary committees are bilateral: they involve the European Parliament and one other delegation, usually from a single country.
Interparliamentary committees may be called Parliamentary Association Committees, Parliamentary Cooperation Committees, Joint Parliamentary Committees or Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committees, depending on a number of factors.
All these committees are created by bilateral agreements between the EU and the partner country or region. The meetings follow strict rules of procedure.
In the 2019-2024 term, Parliament had 15 delegations that participated in 23 interparliamentary committees. Examples include the Delegation to the EU-Mexico Joint Parliamentary Committee (D-MX) and the Delegation to the EU-Ukraine Parliamentary Association Committee (D-UA).
Other interparliamentary delegations
The largest group of delegations focuses on relations with another country, or sometimes with a group of countries.
Members of these delegations meet their fellow legislators in ordinary interparliamentary meetings. The frequency of these meetings can vary according to the schedules and availability of the two partners. These meetings do not have their own rules, although they still adhere to the general provisions for delegations established by the European Parliament.
Most of Parliament's delegations fall into this category of interparliamentary delegations. Two examples are the Delegation for relations with Japan (D-JP) and the Delegation for relations with Canada (D-CA).