Commission, EP and Legislative Politics

Question 1

What are the functions of the Commission?

Answer 1

(1) initiate legislation
(2) implement policies
(3) represents the EU externally
(4) guardian of the Treaties
(5) promotes the general interest of the Union

Question 2

What areas does the Commission not initiate legislation on?

Answer 2

CFSP

Question 3

What powers does the EP have?

Answer 3

(1) budgetary
(2) legislative
(3) scrutiny of the executive

Question 4

What is the consultation procedure?

Answer 4

(1) commission proposes legislation
(2) EP gives opinion [can delay]
(3) Council decides on proposal

Question 5

What policy areas does the consultation procedure apply to?

Answer 5

(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

Question 6

What is the consent procedure?

Answer 6

(1) Council takes position
(2) EP gives consent or rejects proposal
(3) Council adopts only if EP consents

Question 7

What policy areas does the consent procedure apply to?

Answer 7

(1) association agreements
(2) accession of new MSs and withdrawals
(3) trade agreements
(4) Multiannual Financial Framework (budget)

Question 8

What is the ordinary legislative procedure?

Answer 8

(1) Commission initiates - FIRST READING
(2) Second reading (EP veto and propose amendments)
(3) Third reading (compromise after conciliation committee or legislation fails)

Question 9

What policy areas is the ordinary legislative procedure used for?

Answer 9

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

Question 10

What percentage of legislation is agreed at the first reading of the ordinary legislative procedure? (2009-2014)

Answer 10

90%

Question 11

What are the 5 powers of a typical national legislature that the EP possesses, according to McCormick (2015)?

Answer 11

(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

Question 12

How are the EP’s powers (that are typical of a national legislature) made conditional?

Answer 12

(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)

Question 13

What is the idea of a multi-speed Europe?

Answer 13

That different MSs move ahead at different paces of integration so you have differentiated integration

Question 14

What does Riddervold (2015) argue about the Commission’s influence?

Answer 14

CFSP is moving beyond intergovernmental co-operation - although the Member States remain the key players, policy-making does not lie in their hands

Question 15

What examples does Riddervold (2015) use to illustrate her claim that the Commission is more powerful in intergovernmental areas?

Answer 15

• EU Maritime Security Strategy (where says is strong influence)
• EU naval mission Atalanta (budget makes agreeable for MSs to have EU join)

Question 16

What do Auel and Rittberger (2005) argue about the EP?

Answer 16

• 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

Question 17

What do Kaeding and Stack (2015) argue about the use of vetoes in the legislative process?

Answer 17

• 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

Question 18

What does Kardasheva (2009) argue?

Answer 18

EP can substantively influence EU legislative outcomes under consultation procedure

Question 19

What do Hix and Hoyland (2011) report about the number of times legislation is adopted at the first reading under the ordinary legislative procedure?

Answer 19

more than 90% in 2009

Question 20

What do Konig et al (2007) argue?

Answer 20

EP more successful in the conciliation committee esp with support of Commission

Question 21

What did Corbett et al (2011) report?

Answer 21

post Maastrict, EP used right to request Commission to initiate legislative proposal 29 times

Question 22

What does Kohler (2014) argue about the EP?

Answer 22

It has become a committee parliament and so lacks transparency