England is part of the United Kingdom (UK), and the UK is part of a large group of countries called the European Union.
How politics works
Members of the European Parliament (MEPs)

A group of 27 countries who have joined together to decide on policies and laws.
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The European Union is a group of 27 countries, who have joined together to form one big group. This group decides together which policies, laws and rules will be used by all the countries that join the European Union.
A group of 27 countries who have joined together to decide on policies and laws.
Go back up to wordA group of 27 countries who have joined together to decide on policies and laws.
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Policies and laws can be about things like human rights, the environment, farming, fishing and trade.

The European Parliament was set up to help run this group. They work and meet in Strasbourg, which is in France and also in Brussels, which is in Belgium.

The European Parliament votes on policies and laws with 2 other groups of people, called the Council of the European Union and the European Commission.
One of the groups who make decisions in the European Union.
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Each country in the European Union sends a number of politicians to meet and work in Brussels and Strasbourg, and these politicians are called Members of the European Parliament (MEPs).
A group of 27 countries who have joined together to decide on policies and laws.
Go back up to wordPoliticians are ordinary people who decide they want to help run the country. They become politicians by winning an election.
Go back up to wordPoliticians are ordinary people who decide they want to help run the country. They become politicians by winning an election.
Go back up to wordMEPs are politicians you can vote for who represent you when it comes to making decisions about the European Union.
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The European Parliament has a President who is voted in by all the MEPs.
MEPs are politicians you can vote for who represent you when it comes to making decisions about the European Union.
Go back up to wordMEPs are politicians you can vote for who represent you when it comes to making decisions about the European Union.
Go back up to wordMEPs are politicians you can vote for who represent you when it comes to making decisions about the European Union.
Go back up to wordMEPs are politicians you can vote for who represent you when it comes to making decisions about the European Union.
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MEPs are politicians you can vote for who represent you when it comes to making decisions about the European Union.
Go back up to wordYour MP is a politician who represents you when it comes to making decisions about things that affect the whole country.
You can vote to choose your MP at a General Election.
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These policies can be about things like security, farming, trade, travel, fishing, the environment and working.

MEPs have to do a lot of traveling in their job because they spend a lot of time in another country. You can still contact them. They will respond to letters and emails and you can arrange to meet them.
MEPs are politicians you can vote for who represent you when it comes to making decisions about the European Union.
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Do you know who your MEP is?
To find out you can go to the website www.europarl.org.uk (This website will open in a new window.)
MEPs are politicians you can vote for who represent you when it comes to making decisions about the European Union.
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You can phone the UK Office of the European Parliament on 020 7227 4300





