THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT PAYS LIP SERVICE TO THE BRICS

The European Parliament has decided the number of Full Members for Interparliamentary Delegations. The way delegations are composed is essentially the same as that of EP Committees. Political Groups present their list of candidacies to the Conference of Presidents. In order to make the appointments within the group, MEPs manifest their preferences according to the existing delegations. The primary decisions are normally taken inside the different national delegations within the Political Group.

The appointment for the BRICS countries is as follows:

1. D06 Delegation to the EU-Russia Parliamentary Cooperation Committee  31 Full members  
2. D20 Delegation for relations with the Federative Republic of Brazil  14 Full members
3. D25 Delegation for relations with the People's Republic of China 37 Full members  
4. D26 Delegation for relations with India  24 Full members
5. D33 Delegation for relations with South Africa  16 Full members

Brazil has got only 14 Full Members i.e. the same number as for Montegro. India has 24 Full Members i.e. the same number as for Japan. South Africa has got 16 Full Members i.e. the same number than for Ukraine. China has got 37 Full Members i.e. 21 Full Members less than the United States.

So the BRICS which account for 43% of the world’s population, around 18% of its GDP and 40% of its currency reserves, estimated at around a trillion US dollars only retain the attention of  combined 122 MEPs 16% of the total number of MEPs.

It would appear that the appointment of MEPs to the Delegations for Relations with Russia, Brazil, China, India and South Africa is not in sync with economic realities. It’s too bad !