Photographic Explorations of the European Parliament

Big: The European Parliament building in Brussels when it was ready to open for business back in 1997. © dpa - Bildarchiv

The European Parliament boasts several buildings based in Brussels, Luxembourg and Strasbourg to support the world's only directly elected multinational assembly.

Their silvery exteriors and vast interiors can seem both stunning and overwhelming at once to the first-time visitor. Inside are myriad offices and assembly chambers, not to mention gourmet canteens, restaurants, coffee bars and even dry cleaners, postal services and convenient mini-mart-style shops. When the new Parliament building opened in Brussels over a decade ago, it accurately billed itself in one brochure as "a city unto itself".

And so it seems only fitting on the Parliament's 50th anniversary that the Goethe-Institut Washington is showing an exhibition called "Interior Views" (Innenansichten) which it bills as "a photographic exploration of the European Parliament". Curiosity about what lies behing their shimmery exteriors compelled 10 photographers from 10 different European Union countries to accept an invitation to explore all of the Parliament's buildings.

"Their works reveal characteristics of sites ordinarily hidden from public view, and by doing so they give an insight into the world’s only multinational parliament elected by universal suffrage," the Goethe-Institut Washington states on its website.

At present there are 785 members of the European Parliament, known as MEPs or as Euro-deputies in some southern European countries. They are the European Union's equivalent of national legislators. When the European Parliament was first established, MEPs were appointed by member states in national delegations. Since 1979, however, MEPs have been elected by direct universal suffrage.

The European Commission acts as the EU's executive body, with the right to initiate new legislation, and the Council of the European Union represents the interests of individual EU member states. Meanwhile the European Parliament's powers have increased among this trio of key EU institutions over the years, notably when it comes to budgetary oversight. A majority of legislation moreover passed by the Parliament has focused on environmental, health and consumer safety issues. Much of the environmental legislation the 27 EU member states observe was passed by the European Parliament.

The exhibit is being held in conjunction with this year's 50th anniversary celebrations of the European Parliament and in cooperation with the Delegation of the European Commission. An opening reception will be held on May 7, 2008.

Links:

Goethe-Institut Washington

European Parliament

Delegation of the European Commission to the USA

European Parliament Celebrates 50th Anniversary (TWIG, March 20, 2008)

German MEP Elected European Parliament President (TWIG, Jan. 19, 2007)