Commission, EP and Legislative Politics Flashcards
What are the functions of the Commission?
(1) initiate legislation
(2) implement policies
(3) represents the EU externally
(4) guardian of the Treaties
(5) promotes the general interest of the Union
What areas does the Commission not initiate legislation on?
CFSP
What powers does the EP have?
(1) budgetary
(2) legislative
(3) scrutiny of the executive
What is the consultation procedure?
(1) commission proposes legislation
(2) EP gives opinion [can delay]
(3) Council decides on proposal
What policy areas does the consultation procedure apply to?
(1) Citizenship
(2) cooperation on family law with cross-border implication
(3) police cooperation
(4) harmonizing indirect taxation
(5) creating new EU own resources and rules
What is the consent procedure?
(1) Council takes position
(2) EP gives consent or rejects proposal
(3) Council adopts only if EP consents
What policy areas does the consent procedure apply to?
(1) association agreements
(2) accession of new MSs and withdrawals
(3) trade agreements
(4) Multiannual Financial Framework (budget)
What is the ordinary legislative procedure?
(1) Commission initiates - FIRST READING
(2) Second reading (EP veto and propose amendments)
(3) Third reading (compromise after conciliation committee or legislation fails)
What policy areas is the ordinary legislative procedure used for?
Applies to 95% of legislation including: internal market, agriculture, social policy (health and safety etc), public health, asylum, transport, free movement of workers, research etc.
Does not cover: fiscal or defence policy
What percentage of legislation is agreed at the first reading of the ordinary legislative procedure? (2009-2014)
90%
What are the 5 powers of a typical national legislature that the EP possesses, according to McCormick (2015)?
(1) represents the interests of voters
(2) deliberates on matters of public importance
(3) powers to make laws
(4) authority over EU budget
(5) power of scrutiny over other institutions esp. Commission
How are the EP’s powers (that are typical of a national legislature) made conditional?
(1) Cannot initiate legislation
(2) shares powers of amendment/adoption of legislation with Council
(3) limited ability to hold institutions to account
(4) no power to make or break government (executive)
What is the idea of a multi-speed Europe?
That different MSs move ahead at different paces of integration so you have differentiated integration
What does Riddervold (2015) argue about the Commission’s influence?
CFSP is moving beyond intergovernmental co-operation - although the Member States remain the key players, policy-making does not lie in their hands
What examples does Riddervold (2015) use to illustrate her claim that the Commission is more powerful in intergovernmental areas?
- EU Maritime Security Strategy (where says is strong influence)
- EU naval mission Atalanta (budget makes agreeable for MSs to have EU join)
What do Auel and Rittberger (2005) argue about the EP?
- EP looks like national parliament more than international counterparts
- EP is a policy-making legislature according to Norton’s (1990) distinction between policy-making and policy-influencing legislatures
What do Kaeding and Stack (2015) argue about the use of vetoes in the legislative process?
- Council and EP use formal veto powers rarely
- Commission has a strong institutional interest in avoiding direct, open confrontation with either European legislator so willing to compromise
What does Kardasheva (2009) argue?
EP can substantively influence EU legislative outcomes under consultation procedure
What do Hix and Hoyland (2011) report about the number of times legislation is adopted at the first reading under the ordinary legislative procedure?
more than 90% in 2009
What do Konig et al (2007) argue?
EP more successful in the conciliation committee esp with support of Commission
What did Corbett et al (2011) report?
post Maastrict, EP used right to request Commission to initiate legislative proposal 29 times
What does Kohler (2014) argue about the EP?
It has become a committee parliament and so lacks transparency
