Yes, a more accurate characterization would be someting like partially elected legislative branch. The parliament is directly elected, but it doesn't have full

Yes, a more accurate characterization would be someting like partially elected legislative branch. The parliament is directly elected, but it doesn't have full legislative powers. It can't propose new laws and the Council of the EU has veto over the parliament. Dissolving the EC also needs a supermajority. The structure is at least way less directly democratic than any EU country.