On 4-7 June Europe's voters were asked to renew their representatives in the European Parliament. Essential to European democracy, this 5-yearly date in the electoral calendar has held for thirty years. Since 1979 these elections have conferred substantial political legitimacy on the European parliament, since it is the only EU institution directly elected by citizens. This democratic legitimacy has in turn served gradually to increase the power of the parliament. As the "European Parliamentary Assembly", the body was originally limited to a consultative role and comprised national MPs designated by their peers. Treaties have turned it into a veritable European Parliament, with budgetary, legislative and political competencies. The co-decision procedure, introduced by the Treaty of Maastricht, grants the Parliament equality alongside the Council of Ministers during decision-making.