Despite its huge impact on life in the region, the EU remains a foreign concept to many of its citizens. David Wiles finds out more, ahead of the European Parliament elections in June.

MENTION the EU to most of its citizens and you are likely to be met with a blank look or perhaps a joke about straight bananas.

Despite its massive impact on life, the EU seems such a distant or even foreign body that most people in Gloucestershire and South Gloucestershire do not even vote.

Now the Gazette is urging readers to take part in the European Parliament elections on June 4 and so influence the decisions that are taken in Brussels and Strasbourg on our behalf.

The South West EU constituency comprises Gloucestershire, South Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Somerset, Bristol, Devon, Cornwall, Dorset and Gibraltar.

Voters in the South West will be entitled to return six members, known as MEPs, to the European Parliament. This number been reduced from seven for the 2009 election to accommodate the recent accession of Romania and Bulgaria.

EU elections operate through a system of proportional representation, where parties win seats in proportion to their share of the votes.

The South West is currently represented by three Conservative members, two UKIP, one Labour and one Liberal Democrat.

Members' main duties are to oversee the budget and spending, hold EU officials to account and make some legislative decisions.

The EU has common policies on trade, agriculture, fisheries and regional development.

But Brussels is directly or indirectly involved in most areas, including basic freedoms, security and justice, the environment and culture.

The European Parliament will publish an official list of all candidates on May 7 and the election will be held alongside the county council elections on June 4.