The European Parliament is the EU's only democratic forum for debate and its importance is increasing with new powers to amend legislation. As an institution it represents more than 370m people across Europe.

Yet most people use the European elections to pass judgment on their own national governments. And still others don't bother voting at all. Turnout in the UK, Holland and Portugal for the last European elections, in 1994, was as low as 35%.

Democratic - but relatively weak

The European Parliament chamber: MEPs have of late been keen to flex their muscles against the commission

The Parliament has been the weakest of the EU's three main bodies. The unelected European Commission acts as the engine for new legislation. The Parliament and the Council of Ministers - made up of member states' national governments - act as the brakes.

But the Parliament's role is becoming progressively more important, with powers to amend more and more legislation, to approve the EU budget, and to approve - or veto - the appointment of the Commission President.

MEPs point to the mass resignation earlier this year of the entire Commission as proof of a more powerful Parliament. Having previously threatened to sack the Commission, the Parliament won a commitment to an independent investigation into allegations of cronyism and corruption. The final report of that investigation then triggered the resignations.

In a sign of the Parliament's weakness, however, the same commissioners who were forced to resign have still not been replaced.

MEPS had wanted the immediate removal of French Commissioner Edith Cresson and Commission President Jaques Santer. But they are still at their desks until Europe's leaders agree the make-up of a new commission.

So while the Parliament flexed its muscles, the Council of Ministers keeps firm hold of the levers of power.

Gravy-train reputation

Jacques Santer's European Commission resigned en masse this year - but is still in office

Throughout Europe the Parliament has a reputation of being wasteful and expensive. MEPs move between their constituencies lavish new offices in Brussels - where they hold their committee meetings - and the Parliament in Strasbourg.

In fact, when the new intake of MEPs arrives in Strasbourg after 10 June, they'll be moving into a new �300m building. They say it's not their fault - it was the French government that demanded the Parliament keep Strasbourg as a base. But it's the reputation of MEPs that has borne the damage.

MEPs can be blamed, though, for failing to cut down on their generous expenses and allowances. Some MEPs can practically double their salary by claiming business class travel and then flying economy and pocketing the difference.

They had a chance to reform their allowances just before the elections, but resisted. Ministers now plan to introduce a new common salary in return for being reimbursed only for costs incurred.

At the moment MEPs are paid the same salaries as MPs in their respective national parliaments - which means an Italian MEP (the highest paid) can earn three times as much as his Spanish counterpart (the lowest).

Whatever the intentions of MEPs to get a fair and reasonable salary and expense system, many people have been left with the impression that they're greedy and accustomed to life on the gravy train.

The European economy, stupid

There is a European agenda for these elections. The main plank is the economy. Eleven of the EU's 15 members are now locked into a single currency. That alone should make people think more about voting in these Euro-elections.

The European Central Bank, which controls interest rates for the euro, must report back to the Parliament on a regular basis about the decisions it takes. And for those four countries outside the euro-zone - the UK, Sweden, Denmark and Greece - the debate over joining will dominate the campaign.

Then there's Kosovo. Greece and Italy feel uneasy about their Nato and EU partners' action in the Balkans. Certainly in Greece, where there have been mass demonstrations against Nato bombing, people may be turned off taking part.

Former soap-star Michael Cashman, standing now for the European Parliament, may spark popular interest in this year's election

The European elections do, however, provide an incentive for smaller parties to achieve political power.

In 1994 the French far-right of Jean-Marie Le Pen won 11 seats in the European Parliament. The party has now split, but still watch out for far-right groups from France, Austria and Belgium.

The Greens too won 27 seats at the last Euro poll, and with proportional representation being used in the UK this time round, they hope to increase that number.

Stars fight for seats

But the biggest contest of the elections will be between the centre-right and centre-left. With 11 of the 15 EU government's now being run by centre-left administrations, the Parliament's Socialist group believes it can remain the dominant force.

The Socialists had 214 seats in the last Parliament, compared to the Conservative/Christian Democrats' 201 - making the gap between the two largest groups a very narrow one.

If the issues don't pull in the votes, then there's always famous names.

The Greek singer Nana Mouskouri, who won a seat last time, is not standing this time. But the Italian actress Gina Lollobrigida is fighting for a seat, as are the Irish singer Dana, Finnish world rally-driving champion Ari Vatenen and, in the UK, former Eastenders actor Michael Cashman.