Three key factors are determinant in national parliaments’ influence on EU policy. Availability of information, Availability of time, Ability to bind their government’s position in the Council of Ministers.

The expected turnover of MEPs, in the upcoming European elections has the potential to impact significantly on the regulatory landscape in the EU in many areas. Membership of the influential parliamentary Committees is likely to undergo many changes. Businesses and other organisations will need committed and influential politicians who can help them make their voice heard in Brussels.

1. Austria: Freitheitliche Partei Öesterreichs ( NI) 20%= 4 seats
2. Belgium: Vlaams Belang (NI) 6.4%= 1 seat
3. Bulgaria: Bulgaria bez Tsenzura (NI) 10.7%= 2 seats; Ataka (NI) 6%= 1 seat
4. Croatia: Savez za Hrvatsku (NI) 7.1%= 1 seat
5. Czech Republic: Akce nespokojenych obcanu (NI) 21.9%= 7 seats
6. Denmark: Danske Folkeparti (EFD) 26.7%= 4 seats
7. Finland: Perussomalaiset (EFD) 15%= 2 seats
8. France: Front National (NI) 23.3%= 21 seats

A true account of the role, functions and skills required of Members of the European Parliament is not laid out in any official job description.

The Open Europe think tank has identified 6 distinct categories within the next European Parliament which they have called the 'Malcontents Block'. In terms of the seat distribution, the 'Malcontents Block parties' could collectively secure 218 out of 751 seats or 29%.

As of April 30, the S&D (Socialist) party would have 208 seats in the forthcoming European Parliament's elections, just 5 seats behind the EPP.

Here below is where the S&D stands on key policy areas:

Institutional Affairs: Enforcing the subsidiarity principle, providing the EP with more legislative, budgetary and control powers.

As of 30 April, the European People's Party is just 5 seats ahead of the S& D group with a total of 213 seats (28% of total votes) against 208 seats for the S& D (Socialists).

Here below is where the EPP stands regarding key policy areas:

Institutional Affairs: Enforcing the subsidiarity principle and providing a more democratic Europe.

The next European Parliament's elections will produce a high turnover of MEPs with up to 75% new members being predicted.

MEPs interests are threefold: re-election, policy, and office. These three goals are everything but independent of each other , and the relative importance of the three goals is everything but equal. Re-election is the most important goal: Without re-election, there is neither office (within the legislature) nor policy (influence). And it is much harder to influence policy out of office than it is in office (e.g. by using the strategic advantages of holding an important committee chair).

The latest IMF forecast predicts the UK will be the fastest-growing economy among the major developed nations this year.

Applied medicine has included the following