Irish MEP Mr Pat Cox is expected to be voted the new president of the European Parliament tomorrow.
Thanks to a deal with the centre-right European People's Party, the largest group in the EU assembly, and likely support from a majority of the Greens, Mr Cox - leader of the European Liberal Democrats - looks a safe bet for the top job.
He has pledged to bring the European Union's only elected body closer to its citizens.
But if he wins in Tuesday's secret ballot, the outspoken former television journalist from Limerick will face an uphill struggle to raise parliament's profile. EU lawmakers have less visibility than their domestic counterparts and the assembly's growing powers are little known among EU citizens.
"We need to reconnect Europe to its citizens," Mr Cox said in a recent speech. "We need to ensure our institutions work with greater transparency, efficiency and accountability".
His main opponent, Mr David Martin, a Scottish Labour Party deputy and the parliament's longest-serving vice-president, is also vowing to reform the assembly to make it more relevant to ordinary people.
Also running for president are French parliamentarian Mr Gerard Onesta, representing the Greens; Danish anti-integrationist Mr Jens Peter Bonde; and Mr Francis Wurtz, a French communist.
The election comes at a time when the 626-member assembly is rethinking its role and structure ahead of the expected enlargement of the EU to 10 more member states in 2004.