ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the historical evolution and examines its structure. It further assesses its competences and performance in light of the classical parliamentary functions. First, the institutionalization of the EU evolved from a single objective and supranationally oriented organization the European Coal and Steel Community whereas other European international organizations, such as the Council of Europe, were created with the purpose of addressing multiple and diffuse objectives and were always kept intergovernmental. Due to its open, malleable and extended territorial scope, PARLATINO resembles the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe more than the European Parliament; it is also similar to the former institution in its intergovernmental nature and lack of powers. The chapter has presented an analysis of regional parliaments in order, on the one hand, to homogenize the conceptual field and, on the other, to present a comparative state of the art.
