Foreign MEPs ‘outraged’ by Prorogation, but sit for far less time than UK MPs

How many days per month will the EU Parliament sit in 2019?

The answer may shock you

MEPs from other EU countries have been ‘outraged’ by the Prolongation of the UK Parliament by Prime Minister Johnson, as has the press in their countries. Below we show the calendar for the EU Parliament for 2019. The EU Parliament will be in session for just 3.5 days per month during 2019.

Brexit Facts4EU.Org Summary

How the EU Parliament can hardly lecture the UK Parliament

The EU Parliament will sit for only 42 days this year
That’s only 3.5 days per month
In May, June and August they did not sit at all

Note: In the chart above we amalgamated half-days and full days to produce the totals for the EU Parliament each month. In the whole of 2019 there are just 33 full days and 18 half-days for the EU Parliament to sit in session, giving a total of only 42 days for the whole of this year.

Conversely, the House of Commons sits for an average of 149 days per year
That’s 12.5 days per month
And that’s over 100 more days than the EU Parliament

Who is more “democratic”, Guy Verhofstadt?

No democracy should accept it's Parliament being shut down against its will, at a time when debate & scrutiny are needed more than ever. Full support to the thousands who have marched!https://t.co/JLStReNSLZ
— Guy Verhofstadt (@guyverhofstadt) September 1, 2019

Guy Verhofstadt is fond of quoting the Guardian newspaper.

The EU Parliament is not even able to bring forward legislation and enact it, unlike the UK Parliament.

Mr Verhofstadt may wish to explain to the British people that it's the unelected EU Commission that has the right to bring forward legislation in the EU, not the EU Parliament.

Observations

As ever, the Brexit Facts4EU.Org team cuts through the political gibberish and delivers real facts.

On average the British Parliament sits for 3.5 times as many days as will the EU Parliament this year. Despite this, British MEPs have been inciting their EU27 colleagues to condemn “the coup”, as they describe the prorogation of Parliament which normally happens each Autumn. These foreign MEPs have happily waded in, despite knowing very little about the facts.

In our research above we have tried to help them with real facts. We doubt that Europhile federalist MEPs will be interested in facts, alas.

On the other hand, the British public might be interested...

This was another original and highly informative piece of research from Brexit Facts4EU.Org. Please help us to keep going at this critical time for Brexit by making a donation. Thank you.

[ Sources: EU Parliament | UK Parliament Library Service ] Politicians and journalists can contact us for details, as ever.

Brexit Facts4EU.Org, 02 Sept 2019

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Reader Comments 10

1. Sydney Ashurst , Monday, September 02, 2019, 07:14:

Do any of the silly placard waving, let's join a demo for a day out marchers know anything about the EU?
The EU Parliament is not a proper legislature, it rubber stamps the diktats of the Commissions unelected bureaucrats.
How many know to appease the French, Strasbourg is the official seat of the European Parliament. The institution is legally bound to meet there twelve sessions a year lasting about four days each.
As you stated yesterday the EU's chief negotiator is sticking with his ultimatum - ratify the withdrawal agreement and we will talk. What he never says is signing the 585 page WA is not leaving the EU, it only sets their rules for the many years of hard slog to follow. It and the innocuous sounding Political Declaration could keep the UK in the EU forever.

2. Carol W , Monday, September 02, 2019, 08:27:

The EU Parliament is a pretence of democracy, it is the European council that has the real power although even then, he who pays the piper calls the tune:why did Johnson only visit Germany and France.
The majority of the rest do as they are told because they get money directly from the EU or are massive debtors of Germany and France through Eurozone loans: they are client states.

3. Bring back Conservatives with a small c. , Monday, September 02, 2019, 08:29:

Indeed Sydney, EU Parliament is a joke, but so has ours been under the EU. Parliament has 'rubber-stamped' loads of rubbish from the EU in the years since we joined the trading block called the EEC.
If we don't leave on the 31st October 2019, then England is finished. The Conservative party will die a political death. The Marxists will take over the country and the royal family will cease to exist. It is as bleak as that - so one has to hope and pray that Boris Johnson is as sincere as he seems to be about leaving the EU completely. This is the last chance saloon.

4. Badbobthebad , Monday, September 02, 2019, 08:54:

Dear facts4eu,
Can we have a "like" box so we can show our appreciation of some of the brilliant comments on this site?
Please keep going with this fantastic source of info. I contribute when I can; I'd hate to see this site threatened due to lack of funds!

5. Chris , Monday, September 02, 2019, 10:30:

I think they are going to be even more outraged. Take a look at this:
https://order-order.com/201...

6. Concerned , Monday, September 02, 2019, 11:28:

Indeed comment 5, Chris, that order-order site is full of wonderful stuff on the sheer hypocrisy of the political class.
I agree also with with 4. Badbobthebad , a 'like' box would be a good addition. There are many fantastic contributions to the debates on these pages thanks to Facts4eu.
Citizen Khan has been spouting filth again about everyone he hates..... meanwhile knife deaths continue unabated. London needs a new Mayor or none at all.

7. Chris , Monday, September 02, 2019, 11:50:

It certainly shows how vital it is that we retain a Monarchy. It provides the ultimate safeguard against revolutionary deranged crackpots like Corbyn, McDonnell and Starmer from taking over.
If the rabble do succeed in passing their Brexit blocking bill, Boris can simply advise the Queen to refuse Royal assent, given there have multiple precedents in recent times.

8. barbara jell , Monday, September 02, 2019, 12:40:

Comment 7 - interesting possibility - let's hope Boris takes advantage of advising the Queen to refuse Royal Assent to blocking Brexit. This is a tool Labour has used for far less altruistic reasons in the past!!
PS - I actually think the Queen would be thrilled to do so!

9. Chris , Monday, September 02, 2019, 12:47:

Just seen this:
https://www.express.co.uk/n...
"The Sun’s political editor Tom Newton Dunn tweeted: “Emergency Cabinet confirmed for 4.45pm today. No10 source now saying it's wrong for MPs to strip control of Parliament from the Govt ‘without the consent of the people’. That is very much General Election talk. Boris preparing to go to the country."

10. Adam Hiley , Tuesday, September 03, 2019, 08:34:

I don't give a damn what Foreigners think of what is going on in Our Country

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