Members of the European Parliament (1994–1999)

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The 1994–1999 European Parliament was elected in 1994 and served until 1999. It brought together representatives from 15 European Union member states and about 600 MEPs. The two largest political groups were the centre-right and the centre-left, with smaller groups representing liberals, greens, and regional interests.

What MEPs did: They worked in committees to draft and revise laws, debated and voted on EU policies, and monitored the work of the European Commission. They also helped approve the EU budget and discussed foreign and security policy.

Key developments during this term: In 1995, Austria, Finland and Sweden joined the European Union, expanding the Parliament. In 1997, the Amsterdam Treaty was signed, strengthening the Parliament’s powers and reforming EU institutions; it came into force in 1999.

Overall, the 1994–1999 Parliament played a bigger role in making EU laws and overseeing its budget, laying the groundwork for later steps in European integration.