it rarely leads to implementation as the make up of the EP is completely different to that of the Council

the Council sets the legislative agenda, and the Council consists of the member states governments

similar to how the US senate was before the 17th amendment

> it rarely leads to implementation

So is the EU in a perpetual state of legislative gridlock?

Is the US?

https://apnews.com/article/congress-moves-to-avert-partial-g...

The European Union muddles on through in a very undramatic and ugly fashion, same like every other government.

no, the parliament's aims and objectives are simply ignored

Usually in systems where you need A and B to agree to pass a legislation, if A start blocking B's initiatives, B starts blocking A's initiatives in response. If the Council and the Commission always go against the Parliament's will, I expect the Parliament to block their initiatives in return, causing a permanent state of gridlock, until some truce can be reached. If this does not happen in reality, why doesn't it?

it's a multi-party system (dozens of parties)

you can create a majority somehow most of the time

No, it isn't.

After "long talks" (maybe there is even money involved, who knows) with the parliament the things that the Council and / or Commission want get implemented.

Maybe the parliament is allowed to keep some wording form it's proposals as long as it stays mostly symbolic form the practical point of view.

The EU is a "democracy simulation" as we call it. Neither the Council nor the Commission are elected by the EU people but the laws are made by those institutions in practice.