Birzeit University IALIIS

The European Parliament – a rising Star?

Birzeit University IALIIS

International Studies 735The European Union: Unique phenomenon or relevant model?

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT – A RISING STAR?

Felix Dane24 November 2011


1. The EP vis a vis other EU Institutions

2. The EP as an international Actor

3. Influencing the EP

OVERVIEW




OVERVIEW


The EP vis a vis other EU Institutions

1951

Treaties ofRome

1957

TariffReductions

1959

EuropeanAgricultural

Fund

1962

MergerTreaty

1967

1973

Direct Elections to the EPEuropean Monetary System

1979

Greece, Spain,Portugal

1981/86

Maastricht TreatySingle Market

1993

Austria, FinlandSweden

1995

Amsterdam TreatyTrading in Euro starts at

stock exchanges

1999

NiceTreaty

2003

Eastern enlargement(10 Central and Eastern

European countries)

2004

Romania,Bulgaria

2007

LisbonTreaty

1986

2009

Accession

Treaty

other event

Single European Act

ECCS: France,Italy, Germany

BENELUX

Denmark, GreatBritain, Ireland

Key Steps Towards Integration

European Parliament 736 Members of Parliament elected in 27 Member States,

23 official languages

decision-making process– cooperation, codecision, approval

governance– budget, hearings, election of the president of the Commission +

approval of the entire Commission

approval of changes to EU-treaties, trade agreements etc.

legal competences, almost equal to those of the Council– except foreign policy

no power of initiative



Seating in the EP


Weighting of Votes in Parliament

A Regime of Degressive Proportionality


EU Budget Expenditure 1958 – 2008


Parliament´s Budget Plan 2011

EP Work

Plenary Sessions

(Sub-)Committees

Working groups

Parliamentary groups

Delegations



One Parliament – Two Locations

Brussels

Strasbourg

Council of the European Union (“Council”)

representation of Member States

rotating presidency + president of the Council (Herman Van Rompuy)

increase in applying the qualified majority rule– from 2014 onward, double majority representing 55% of

the member states and 65% of the population

Council of Foreign Ministers is the decision-making body in terms of EU foreign policy


European Commission

internally & externally represents and upholds the interests of the EU (guardian of the treaties)

oversees, implements and enforces EU policies and laws

power of initiative

manages the EU’s budget and allocates funding

more than 40 Directorates-General (DGs) and agencies





OVERVIEW


The EP as an international Actor

European External Action Service (EEAS)

objectives: to pool resources of foreign affairs and to align external actions

serves as a foreign ministry and diplomatic corps for the EU

recruitment of personnel from the member states, the Council and the Commission

headed by High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (Catherine Ashton) + Vice President of the Commission


International Activities

EP Delegation

Joint Parliamentary Assembly

Assistance to non-EU Parliaments

EP Election Observation Missions

Budget on external Activities




OVERVIEW

3. Influencing the EP (no slides)


Identifying Lobby-Work

Transparency Register:4051 registered Lobbyists, 1797 Interest Organisations

Access only if registered

Commit to the Code of Conduct

Financial Structures of MEP Office:Virtual Office Allowance

Influencing the EP

A Lobbyist´s Work

The more Supranational Powers, the more EU-Lobbyists

Provide Know-How

Decode Impact

Influencing the EP

Palestinian Influence

Ambassador Leila Shahid

Contact Committees / MEPs / Assistants

Hearings

Use of External Actors (NGOs, UNRWA, Pressure Groups)

Influencing the EP


THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT – A RISING STAR?

Birzeit University IALIIS

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