A celebratory meeting, a concert, a family photograph and a cake. The European Parliament turns 50, and the Strasbourg office has organised official ceremonies and parties for the plenary meeting (10-13 March). Tuesday 11th in particular will see the opening of the celebrations for the fiftieth anniversary of the assembly, which convened its first meeting in the Alsatian city on 19th March 1958. "Since then explains a note from the EU institution the number of MEPs has increased as the number of member states increased, and its powers have been extended as new Treaties were implemented". "From a mere consultative body, the EU Parliament has become a veritable legislator, representing 500 million people". During the opening address, the president, Hans-Gert Poettering, will go over the history of the institution and will highlight the fact that the Lisbon Treaty will vest new powers in the EU Parliament in the EU’s legislative and political process. From the first 142 members, the EU Parliament has grown to the current 785 members from 27 countries, "gathered in groups depending on their political similarities, not on their nationality". From the next term, which will begin with the election of June 2009, under the Lisbon Treaty, the number of MEPs will be 751.
