Edward as Vice-President Edward was first elected Vice-President of the European Parliament in 2004. He had topped the poll in the EPP-ED Group (the largest Group in the European Parliament) during the selection process and was elected fourth of 14 Vice-Presidents in the 785-member assembly.
In 2007, he was re-elected in the same position and re-elected as Vice-President in July 2009 when he stood against the controversial Polish poitician Michal Kaminski. On that occasion he was nominated by MEPs on a cross-party basis and won by 244 votes against Kaminski's 174.
In the 2004 - 2009 parliament his responsibilities as Vice-President included relations with the Arab world and in particular, the Euro Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly, comprised of 260 MPs and MEPs from the EU and Mediterranean; in addition, he was responsible for relations with the 27 national parliaments within the EU.
Edward McMillan-Scott chairing the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly
Key posts in new Parliament As Vice-President, Edward has been given the following responsibilities in the new Parliament: Human Rights and Democracy; relations with the national parliaments of the EU (through COSAC - Conference of European Affairs Committees), and the Northern Dimension - an EU policy embracing the Baltic States.
He is chairman of the European Parliament's Audit Panel.
Commenting after the appointments were confirmed in early September by European Parliament President, former Polish PM Jerzy Buzek, McMillan-Scott said: "I am delighted, particularly as the appointment as Vice-President responsible for democracy and human rights completely justifies the support given to me by NGOs and individuals, who asked me to stand again. " "Relations with national parliaments across the EU is a portfolio I have held as Vice-President since 2004. I am pleased that my hard work has been recognised in my re-appointment, especially as the Lisbon Treaty enhances their role in EU law-making - as well as the European Parliament's - against the EU Commission." McMillan-Scott is seen (left) leading a delegation of senior MEPs to a meeting in the  Bundestag being addressed by Angela Merkel.
McMillan-Scott has also been appointed to oversee the Northern Dimension, an EU policy aimed particularly at the Baltic States and Russia's relations with them.
As chairman of the European Parliament's Audit Panel Edward is reponsible for overseeing the institution's compliance with the EU Financial Regulation, which ensures greater transparency and in management responsibility.
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| The Bureau of the European Parliament The Bureau is the body that lays down rules for Parliament. It draws up Parliament’s preliminary draft budget and decides all administrative, staff and organisational matters.  It is composed of the President of the European Parliament along with all 14 Vice-Presidents and the five Quaestors (in a consultive capacity). They are elected for two and a half years (renewable term) . Pictured left is the 2007 - 2009 Bureau.
Rules of procedure of the European Parliament Rule 22 : Duties of the Bureau 1. The Bureau shall carry out the duties assigned to it under the Rules of Procedure.
2. The Bureau shall take financial, organisational and administrative decisions on matters concerning Members and the internal organisation of Parliament, its Secretariat and its bodies.
3. The Bureau shall take decisions on matters relating to the conduct of sittings.
4. The Bureau shall adopt the provisions referred to in Rule 31 concerning Non-attached Members.
5. The Bureau shall decide the establishment plan of the Secretariat and lay down regulations relating to the administrative and financial situation of officials and other servants.
6. The Bureau shall draw up Parliament's preliminary draft estimates.
7. The Bureau shall adopt the guidelines for the Quaestors pursuant to Rule 25.
8. The Bureau shall be the authority responsible for authorising meetings of committees away from the usual places of work, hearings and study and fact-finding journeys by rapporteurs.
Where such meetings are authorised, the language arrangements shall be determined on the basis of the official languages used and requested by the members and substitutes of the committee concerned.
The same shall apply in the case of the delegations, except where the members and substitutes concerned agree otherwise.
9. The Bureau shall appoint the Secretary-General pursuant to Rule 197.
10. The Bureau shall lay down the implementing rules relating to European Parliament and Council Regulation (EC) No 2004/2003 on the regulations governing political parties at European level and the rules regarding their funding and shall, in implementing that Regulation, assume the tasks conferred upon it by these Rules of Procedure.
11. The President and/or the Bureau may entrust one or more members of the Bureau with general or specific tasks lying within the competence of the President and/or the Bureau. At the same time the ways and means of carrying them out shall be laid down.
12. When a new Parliament is elected, the outgoing Bureau shall remain in office until the first sitting of the new Parliament.
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