The European parliament has elected Italian socialist MEP David Sassoli as its new president.

Mr Sassoli, an MEP from the Democratic Party, replaces outgoing conservative president Antonio Tajani in the EU legislature’s top role.

A former journalist, the centre-left candidate won 345 votes in the second round of voting, ahead of right-winger Jan Zahradil who won 160 votes and Green Ska Keller who netted 119.

Leaders on the European Council had recommended a socialist be given the role of European parliament president as part of the jobs package they cooked up at a three-day summit at beginning of the week. Europe’s centre-left lost out on the commission presidency, under the plan.

Mr Sassoli will hold the post for two and a half years, and under an agreement struck with the parliament’s centre-right EPP group will hand the presidency to them after that.

However, EU leaders recommended that the parliament elect a president from central and eastern Europe, because of weak representation for the region elsewhere in the proposed jobs package. This did not happen: Mr Sassoli is the seventh European parliament president to hail from Italy, and the second in a row after Mr Tajani.

“We’re making a start to a parliamentary term where events place a great responsibility on our shoulders,” he told MEPs in his acceptance speech.

“We need to return to the spirit of the founding fathers: those who put aside the hostility of warfare and the damage caused by nationalism in order to build up a project that can bring together peace, democracy, the rule of law, development, and equality.

“Too many people in recent months have been stressing about the way this project has been in decline – stressing conflict, which we thought was just a sorry memory in our past. But our citizens have shown that they still believe in this wonderful project; the only one that is any position to rise to global challenges we face."

What's the European Parliament ever done for us? Show all 5 1 /5 What's the European Parliament ever done for us? What's the European Parliament ever done for us? A cap on the amount of hours an employer can make you work The Working Time directive provides legal standards to ensure the health and safety of employees in Europe. Among the many rules are a working week of a maximum 48 hours, including overtime, a daily rest period of 11 hours in every 24, a break if a person works for six hours or more, and one day off in every seven. It also includes provisions for paid annual leave of at least four weeks every year Getty Images What's the European Parliament ever done for us? Helping the people of Britain to avoid smoking In 2014 MEPs passed the Tobacco Products Directive strengthening existing rules on the manufacture, production and presentation of tobacco products. This includes things like reduced branding, restrictions on products containing flavoured tobacco, health warnings on cigarette packets and provisions for e-cigarettes to ensure they are safe What's the European Parliament ever done for us? Helping you to make the right choices with your food Thanks to the European Parliament, UK consumers have access to more information than ever about their food and drink. This includes amount of fat, and how much of it is saturated, carbohydrates, sugars, protein and so on. It also includes portion sizes and guideline daily amount information so people can make informed choices about their diet. All facts must be clear and easy to understand What's the European Parliament ever done for us? Two year guarantees and 14-day returns policy for all products Consumers across the EU have access to a number of rights, from things which are potentially very useful, to things which used to be annoying. For example, shoppers in the UK receive a two-year guarantee on all products, and a 14-day period to change their minds and return a purchase, these things are useful www.PeopleImages.com-licence restrictions apply What's the European Parliament ever done for us? Keeping your air nice and fresh (and safe) Believe it or not, although the situation is improving, some areas of the UK have appalling air quality. A report by the Royal College of Physicians released on 23 February says 40,000 deaths are caused by outdoor air pollution in the UK every year. Air pollution is linked to a number of illnesses and conditions, from Asthma to diabetes and dementia. The report estimates the costs to British business and the health service add up to £20 billion every year

“We need to be strong enough to re-launch our process of integration, changing our union and enabling it to come up to a stronger response to the needs of our citizens.”

He says the European parliament should be strengthened during this parliamentary term so it could play a "leading role in a European democracy".

"The European parliament will guarantee the independence of European citizens. Only they are entitled to determine their own history. No one can take their place, no one can usurp our position."