The legislative process of the European Union is complicated and strange for most citizens, accustomed to the dynamics of national parliaments and governments. It has been modified over time and although a possible reform of the Treaties is not on the table right now, if the Union ends up opening its doors to the many applicants knocking on the door, it would not be surprising if the necessary steps were taken to adapt them. . Now it is a convoluted and delicate process, it is cumbersome and very slow and is subject to blockades by a single government and often unanimous decisions, but it succeeds, more or less. With three, six or nine more members, it would be unviable.
The EU also has a Parliament. Why is the process so different?
The operation has little or nothing to do with that of a national or regional government or a city council. The UE It has a Parliament, but it does not have a legislative initiative. This corresponds to the European Commission which, despite what is often said, is not the executive body either. In the Union, the Commission is the one that makes the proposals for directives or regulations, and then they are the Eurocamera and the European Council (that is, the ministers of each branch of the 27) those who negotiate it, softening the idea, reinforcing it or amending it completely.
Who has the last word then?
The Council, the governments. In the end nothing is done in the EU against national governments. There are many procedures, negotiations. There are at some points where MEPs have the power of ratification, blocking, even sporadically veto or censure. But the last word, the last step, always belongs to the executives.