European Institutions.pdf

8/10/2019 European Institutions.pdf

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Institutions of the European Union

Moldova State University

Faculty of International Relations, Political andAdminstrative Sciences


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INTRODUCTION

+Court of Justice, The European Court of Auditors,The European Central Bank , The European

External Action Service, The European Economic

and Social Committee etc.


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European Parliament

debating and passing European laws,with the Council

scrutinising other EU

institutions, particularly the

Commission, to make sure they

are working democratically

debating andadopting the EU's

budget, with the

Council.


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5 YEARS

The number of MEPs for each country is

roughly proportionate to its population. No

country can have fewer than 6 or more than

96 and the total number cannot exceed 751

(750 plus the President). MEPs are grouped by

political affiliation, not by nationality.


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WORK PLACES

Brussels (Belgium) Strasbourg (France) Luxembourg

home to the

administrativeoffices (the General

Secretariat)meetings of the whole Parliament

(plenary sessions)

committee meetings


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The European Commission

purpose

proposing new laws to Parliament andthe Council

managing theEU's budget

and allocating

funding

enforcing EUlaw (together

with the Court

of Justice)

representing the EU internationally, for

example, by negotiating agreements

between the EU and other countries.


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one from each EU country, provide the

Commissions political leadership during their 5-

year term. Each Commissioner is assigned

responsibility for specific policy areas by the

President.

The President is nominated by the European

Council.


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The Commission is

based in Brusselsand Luxembourg and

has offices

(representations) inevery EU country

and delegations in

capital cities around

the world.


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European Council

summits where EU leadersmeet to decide on broad

political priorities and major

initiatives. Typically, thereare around 4 meetings a year,

chaired by a permanent

president.


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What does it do?

sets the EU's general political

direction and priorities, and

dealing with complex or sensitive

issues that cannot be resolved at alower level of intergovernmental

cooperation

has no powers to pass laws


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Who exactly is involved?

the heads of state or government of

every EU country

the Commission President

the European Council President, who

chairs the meetings

the EUs High Representative for

Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

N

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V

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When and where does it meet?

How are decisions taken?

Twice every 6 months, though itspresident can convene a special meeting

if needed. Usually in Brussels.

The European Council decides by consensus, except if the

Treaties provide otherwise. In some cases, it adoptsdecisions by unanimity or by qualified majority, depending

on what the Treaty provides for.


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Council of the European Union

where national ministers from each EU

country meet to adopt laws and

coordinate policies.

NOTEuropean Council

Council of Europe


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What does it do?

Passes EU laws.

Coordinates the broad economic

policies of EU member countries.

Signs agreements between the

EU and other countries.Approves the annual EU budget

Develops the EU's foreign and

defence policies.

Coordinates cooperation between

courts and police forces of

member countries.


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Who are the members of the

Council?

At each Council meeting, each country

sends the minister for the policy field

being discussede.g. the environment

minister for the meeting dealing withenvironmental matters. That meeting

will then be known as the "Environment

Council".


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Who chairs the meetings?

The foreign ministers Council has a

permanent chairperson

the EU's High

Representative for foreign and security

policy.

All other Council meetings are chaired

by the relevant minister of the country

holding the rotating EU presidency.


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Voting

Decisions in the Council of the EU are taken by

qualified majority as a general rule.

Germany, France, Italy and the United Kingdom: 29 votes

Spain and Poland: 27

Romania: 14Netherlands: 13

Belgium, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary and Portugal: 12

Austria, Bulgaria and Sweden: 10

Croatia, Denmark, Ireland, Lithuania, Slovakia and Finland: 7

Cyprus, Estonia, Latvia, Luxembourg and Slovenia: 4Malta: 3

= TOTAL: 352


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When the Council votes, 'qualified majority voting'

applies. A qualified majority is reached WHEN:

-a majority (sometimes even two thirds) of the 28 EU

countries vote in favour

-at least 260 of the possible 352 votes are cast

From 2014 a system known as 'double majority voting' isintroduced.

For a proposal to go through, it will need the support of 2

types of majority: a majority of countries (at least 15) and

a majority of the total EU population (the countries infavour must represent at least 65% of the EU population).

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