This article provides an insight into the status quo and functions of the European Parliament (EP) in the European Union (EU) multi‐level governance system in order to better locate the structural issues the EP is facing in terms of accountability and legitimacy in the EU. The study mainly finds that the EP's extension of powers by the treaties and non‐treaty‐based inter‐institutional agreements has led it to become a legislative powerhouse, the work of which is concentrated in the less visible committees. This development, however, comes at the cost of the EP's function as a public arena of debate and conflict, with the big party groups mainly voting like a singular bloc in the plenary because decisions had already been agreed in the committees. In sum, increasing competences and workloads do not lead to more legitimacy and accountability.