In the spring, the EP helped prepare the European constitution. But voters in France and the Netherlands rejected it, sending panic through offices in Strasbourg and Brussels. The EP also welcomed 163 new members (MEPs) from 10 new EU countries, including 24 Czechs.

The Prague Post talked to a few of the new MEPs about their upcoming one-year anniversary, including working in the world's biggest multinational parliament, as well as the organization's lighter side.

Richard Falbr, Social Democrats (ČSSD)

Having been an observer of the EP for a year [before Czechs joined the EU], I knew what to expect. I like it here: there are a lot of smart and experienced people. But I didn't expect so much work ... not just legislation but scores of resolutions and declarations. MEPs don't get together in the evenings as much as legislators do in Prague. It's sort of lonely. I'm a little disappointed by the lack of cooperation with fellow Czech MEPs. We ought to pursue restrictions on the tapping of EU funds by new members jointly, to take one example.

Some EU officials became almost hysterical following the 'no' votes on the EU constitution in France and the Netherlands, while the 10 new member countries were praised. A Spanish MEP said it's time to stop distinguishing between old and new members in light of the new members' exemplary conduct.

An anecdote? Votes are cast by raising your hand. Every now and then someone demands votes be checked electronically. The margin often turns out to be strongly against the members that demand the checking. The people presiding over the sessions are pretty good at estimating.

Jan Zahradil, Civic Democrats (ODS)

My expectations weren't high. I knew how the EP worked, and any illusions I had were lost once I got here. Everyone talks about European interests but votes for national priorities, which proves there is no such thing as a 'European' public.

The ODS MEPs have brought a new tone to the EP. We're willing to polemicize and criticize. Not everyone is pleased, but it's necessary. No one has a monopoly on what it means to be European.

Passing the work-time directive was the EP's biggest failure last year. Labor markets throughout the EU will be adversely affected. I hope the European Council blocks it.

The EP in general doesn't have a sense of humor. Everything is serious. People run around with stacks of paper, giving the impression they're resolving the fate of the world. That's funny in its own way.

Jana Hybášková, European Democrats (ED)

Friends warned me the EP would be boring. It's anything but boring. I'm probably the only Arabic-speaking MEP, and I'm the chairwoman of the EP-Israel delegation. Israel mistrusts the EU. And the majority of member states have poor relations with Israel. I try to rid our relations of ideological overtones, make them more balanced and pragmatic.

Getting the EP to include Hizballah on a list of terrorist organizations is my greatest personal success. I'm also glad the EP sent a mission to Darfur, where Sudan's black population is the target, in my opinion, of genocide. I see it as a failure that we haven't changed the situation there.

Milan Cabrnoch, ODS

I realized I was getting on a moving train — some MEPs have been around for 15 years. But most of the new MEPs have found a foothold. Our colleagues from older member countries listen to us. I don't feel like I'm at a disadvantage because I'm from a small country — with 24 MEPs the Czech Republic is not that small.

One problem is a division between new and old member [states]. There's a tendency to concentrate on whether new members abide by EU norms, even though old members are just as likely to break them.

At the beginning of our term there was a tug of war between the EP and the commission. A lot of time was taken up by the constitution. I noticed that those most adamant about the necessity of a French "yes" in the referendum [on the constitution]—after a few days, they pretended nothing had happened. That's not really a funny story. It's rather ominous.

Zuzana Roithová, Christian Demo-crats (KDU-ČSL)

I was surprised at the range of issues the EP deals with, from economic policy to intellectual topics, and the extent that the EP influences EU policy. It's different in the Czech Parliament, where ministers don't like to concede ground; the opposition is partial, and coalition deputies downplay even legitimate criticism.

The lack of technological resources at the EP is unfortunate. It's easy in the [Czech] Senate to plug in your laptop and hook up to the Internet, but it's not possible in the EP.

My greatest achievement was building up a good position on the Internal Market Committee. The fight to not give up on textile manufacturing has already borne fruit.

Being from a small country is no disadvantage at all. In fact, it has its advantages. Once there was a meeting with limited space. I was told I wouldn't fit, and I remarked, in an obvious overstatement, that I was being discriminated against for being a woman from a new member state. Room was immediately made for me, and the meeting's chairman later took me out to lunch.

Miloslav Ransdorf, Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSČM)

I had modest expectations. For example, I knew the European Commission can declare a norm valid even though it has been rejected by the EP. Nevertheless, I became first deputy chairman of the Industrial Research and Energy Committee. The committee works well. I'm also happy with the style of politics. People listen to each other. There's a culture of tolerance.

Influence comes down to communication skills. I've seen a Bangladeshi ambassador at the UN wield more influence than the size of the Bangladeshi economy would mandate. The same goes for the EP.

The fight over the makeup of the commission was important. The EP succeeded in showing it won't be a puppet in the hands of the European Commission.

Once [EU commissioner of social affairs, a Czech, Vladimír] Špidla spoke at a conference. When his turn came, he mistakenly picked up someone else's speech and began reading. It didn't occur to him that it wasn't his speech. Finally, someone came and took the papers from his hands.