"Since their inception in 1979, the European Parliament's Fact Sheets have proven to be very useful for the public as a source of information about the EU, with a particular focus on Parliament's contribution to European integration and policy-making. Designed for non-specialists interested in finding out more about European integration, they have also very often been useful as background documents for MEPs, professionals and academics and have become a reference for students. The Fact Sheets highlight the role of the European Parliament, which now decides on the vast majority of EU legislation: on 1 December 2009 over 40 new policy areas were brought under the ordinary legislative procedure involving Parliament and the Council, including agriculture, fisheries and energy. Parliament also has budgetary powers covering all EU expenditure and, together with the Council, has the final say on the EU budget. It now has the right to initiate treaty change and elects the President of the European Commission "

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