Unveiled in February 2008, the website was developed by the Romanian Institute for Public Policies (IPP) and aims to make members of the European Parliament (MEPs) accountable for their actions. The site, launched under the banner "How MEPs work", gives interested citizens the opportunity to check how regularly each parliamentarian attended sessions as well as the number of motions for resolutions he or she has put forward or supported. It also gives details of MEPs' voting records.
"Technically, the website is perfectly designed," IPP Director Violeta Alexandru told EurActiv. Moreover, as a means of assessing the work of MEPs, "it is unique", she explained. A similar IPP initiative covers the Romanian parliament, she added.
However, the website has not been properly updated and if no solution is found, it could soon be closed, Alexandru revealed. She explained that not only does it require additional funding, but also an IT specialist with a good understanding of how the European Parliament functions.
Until recently, the website's search facility provided detailed information concerning the most and the least active MEPs as well as whose voting records were most or least loyal to their political groups. The search functions meant that the Parliament's various political groups could be closely monitored and compared, while MEPs could be evaluated according to their countries of origin.
"You have the right to know how each MEP votes," states the site's homepage.
Adrian Moraru, the IPP's deputy director, spoke to EurActiv of his belief in the utility of such a website, especially ahead of European elections due in June 2009. He said national political parties did monitor MEPs with a view to drafting election lists, but insisted that citizens should also be given the chance to monitor the people that they voted for.
