CommWeb Flashcards
Titles in the TEU
common provisions that lay down the values
democratic principles, such as the rule of law, the European Citizens’ Initiative, an innovation of the Treaty of Lisbon, and the role of national parliaments;
provisions on the institutions and enhanced cooperation
The Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU)
retains the former EC Treaty’s structure
principles;
non-discrimination and citizenship of the EU;
EU policies and internal action;
association of overseas countries and territories; the EU's external action; institutional and financial provisions; general and final provisions.
Protocols annexed to Treaties
37 Protocols are annexed to the Treaties, of which they form an integral part.
- Some of these Protocols lay down provisions concerning opt-out for the Member States.
How many groups in EP?
There are currently 7 political groups in the European Parliament.
Conditions for group in EP
least 25 MEPs from at least one-quarter of member states (at the moment that would mean from at least seven countries).
MEPs can belong to only one political group, but may choose not to belong to any; they are then called non-attached.
Currently, 29 MEPs have opted not to join a political group.
Top 5 groups EP
Group of the European People’s Party (EPP)
Manfred Weber (Germany). This is his fourth term as an MEP. He has been chairing the group since 2014
187
Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament (S&D)
Iratxe García (Spain). MEP since 2004
147
Renew Europe group
Dacian Cioloș (Romania). This is his first term as MEP. He was agricultural commissioner in 2010-2014 and is a former prime minister
98
Identity and Democracy (ID)
Marco Zanni (Italy). MEP since 2014
76
Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance (Greens/EFA)
Ska Keller (Germany) and Philippe Lamberts (Belgium). Keller has been an MEP since 2009 and became co-president of the group in 2016. Lamberts became an MEP in 2009 and co-president in 2014
67
European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR)
Ryszard Legutko (Poland) and Raffaele Fitto (Italy). Legutko, an MEP since 2009, became co-chair in 2017. Fitto served as an MEP in 1999-2000 and again since 2014
61
European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR)
Ryszard Legutko (Poland) and Raffaele Fitto (Italy). Legutko, an MEP since 2009, became co-chair in 2017. Fitto served as an MEP in 1999-2000 and again since 2014
61
Confederal Group of the European United Left - Nordic Green Left (GUE/NGL)
Manon Aubry (France), first-time MEP, and Martin Schirdewan (Germany), MEP since 2017. Aubry was elected in May 2019.
39
Seats of groups in EP
1EPP 187
2S&D 147
3Renew Europe group 98
4Identity and Democracy (ID) 76
5Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance 67
6European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) 61
7Confederal Group of the European United Left - Nordic Green Left (GUE/NGL)39
How many MEPs + Council rep. in Conciliation?
= # MS = 27
Consent/assent procedure introduced by
Formerly know as the assent procedure, it was introduced by the 1986 Single European Act in two areas: association agreements and agreements governing accession to the European Union. The scope for the application of the procedure was extended by all subsequent modifications of the Treaties.
Areas of consent procedure
Formerly know as the assent procedure, it was introduced by the 1986 Single European Act in two areas: association agreements and agreements governing accession to the European Union. The scope for the application of the procedure was extended by all subsequent modifications of the Treaties.
As a non-legislative procedure:
the ratification of certain agreements negotiated by the EU;
in cases of serious breach of fundamental rights under Article 7 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU);
for the accession of new EU members; or
arrangements for the withdrawal from the EU.
As a legislative procedure, it is to be used also:
when new legislation on combating discrimination is being adopted;
it gives the European Parliament a veto when the subsidiary general legal basis is applied in line with Article 352 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU (TFEU).
Consent procedure vote
Requires the European Parliament’s consent to a proposed act, before certain decisions can be taken.
based on a single majority vote on consent
Consultation procedure introduded by
The European Parliament may approve or reject a legislative proposal, or propose amendments to it. The Council is not legally obliged to take account of Parliament’s opinion but in line with the case-law of the Court of Justice, it must not take a decision without having received it.
In the beginning, the 1957 Treaty of Rome gave Parliament an advisory role in the legislative process; the Commission proposed and the Council adopted legislation.
History of consultation
Rome 1957: EP as adviser in legislative process
The Single European Act (1986) and the Maastricht, Amsterdam, Nice and Lisbon Treaties successively extended Parliament’s prerogatives.
Now only few areas such as internal market exemptions and competition law.
Consultation is also required, as a non-legislative procedure, where international agreements are being adopted under the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP).
Areas of consultation
Only few areas such as internal market exemptions and competition law.
Consultation is also required, as a non-legislative procedure, where international agreements are being adopted under the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP).
Exceptional legislative initiative by MS
Member States may put forward legislative proposals on the initiative of at least a quarter of them
only to judicial cooperation in criminal matters and police cooperation and to administrative cooperation in these areas
GRI
the interinstitutional relations group (GRI).
In each department, one or more staff members supervise coordination of the legislative procedure within their department.
These ‘European Parliament/Council coordinators’ meet as a ‘pre-GRI’ group to prepare GRI work.
They are also known as ‘pre-GRI coordinators’.
Conclusion of accession agreement
The European Parliament must then give its consent by a majority of its Members and the Council must give its unanimous approval.
Treaty for uniform election procedure
Maastricht 1992
MEPs in Treaties
Amsterdam (1997/1999): 700
Nice: 732
ToL: 751
Post UK: 705
Role Bureau of EP
lays down rules for Parliament.
It draws up EP’s preliminary draft budget
decides all administrative, staff and organisational matters.
Quorum in EP
A quorum (minimum number of Members who must be present in order for the result of a vote to be valid) exists when one third of the component MEPs are present in the Chamber.
What is STOA?
Panel for the Future of Science and Technology (STOA)
Who is Pat Cox
Patrick Cox is a former Irish Fine Gael politician, journalist and television current affairs presenter who served as President of the European Parliament from 2002 to 2004 and Leader of the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party Group from 1998 to 2002.
Robert Schuhma bio
With his declaration of 9 May 1950, considered the Robert Schuman assumed political responsibility for a common coal and steel market that would later become the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC).
Robert Schuman was president of the European Parliamentary Assembly from 1958 to 1960.
Spinelli bio
Treaty on a federal European Union - the so-called ‘Spinelli Plan’. This was adopted in 1984 by an overwhelming majority in the Parliament and provided an important inspiration for the strengthening of the EU Treaties in the 1980s and ‘90s.
As a 17-year old, Spinelli joined the Communist Party, as a consequence of which he was imprisoned by the Italian fascist regime between 1927 and 1943.
At the end of the Second World War, he established the Federalist Movement in Italy.
In his role as advisor to personalities such as De Gasperi, Spaak and Monnet, he worked for European unification.
.As a member of the European Commission he took over the area of internal policy from 1970 to 1976.
For three years he served as a Member of the Italian Parliament for the Communist Party before being elected to the European Parliament in 1979.
Spaak
First president of Common Assembly (1952-54)
Gasperi
Second president of Common Assembly
Gaetano Martino
President of Appointed Pariliament (1962-64)
First president of directly elected EP
Simone Weil (1979-82)
Areas of OLP under ToL
added 40 further legal bases,
in particular in the area of justice, freedom and security and in agriculture, under
Parliament now decides on legislative acts on equal footing with the Council.
Hence, the ordinary legislative procedure, formerly called the codecision procedure, applies to 85 legal bases.
Areas of co-decision (OLP) under Treaties
Maastricht Treaty, November 1993: First introduction of the codecision procedure which covered a limited number of legislative areas (mainly internal market).
Amsterdam Treaty, May 1999: Simplification of the codecision procedure making it possible to conclude agreements at first reading. Extension of its scope to more than 40 legal bases (including transport, environment, justice and home affairs, employment and social affairs).
Nice Treaty, February 2003: Extension of the scope of the codecision procedure to further areas.
Lisbon Treaty, December 2009: Codecision officially becomes the Ordinary Legislative Procedure, covering 85 areas of Union action (including agriculture, fisheries and common commercial policy).
Which procedure for discrmination measures?
OLP
Democratic equality:
Representative democracy:
Participatory democracy:
Since ToL
Democratic equality: the EU must observe the principle of the equality of its citizens, who shall receive equal attention from its institutions, bodies, offices and agencies (Article 9 TEU).
Representative democracy: EU citizens are directly represented at EU level by the European Parliament.
Participatory democracy: EU citizens have the right to participate in EU decisions and interact with the EU institutions, for example, through dialogue by means of civil society organisations in which they are members.
European Social Dialogue
The European Commission consults the social partners on the possible direction of an initiative, in a first stage, and on the content of an initiative, in a second stage.
Molitor group
U Commission working group established in 1994 to simplify the laws of the Community
Rules of procedure of COM
the Commission’s Rules of Procedure adopted by the Commission. The Rules giving effect to the Rules of Procedure annexed to it set out practical guidelines for their implementation;
Qurom and votes at the COM
The quorum for College meetings is the majority of its Members.
Decisions are in general taken in a consensual manner. The President may formally note the consensus. However, the President or any Member of the Commission may request that a vote be taken. In that case, a majority of Members is needed for any proposal to be adopted.
Each Member of the Commission has one vote and may only vote in person.
CSSR Gifts
Only below 150EUR.
royalties from books must be donated.
Members of the Commission may participate in national politics as members of national political parties or an organisation of the social partners (such as trade unions).
They can also participate in a national election campaign, including regional or local elections, provided that this does not compromise their availability for service in the Commission.
COM and EP alignment
Since Maastricht. both 5 year terms. COM takes office 5 months after EP elections
CONECCS
database for Consultation, the European Commission and Civil Society (CONECCS)
part of the Commission’s commitment to provide better information about its consultation processes.
directory of non-profit making civil society organisations organised at European level.
established on a voluntary basis and it is intended only for information.
Misconduct of CSSR
If any Member of the Commission no longer fulfils the conditions required for the performance of his duties or if he has been guilty of serious misconduct, the Court of Justice may, on application by the Council acting by a simple majority or the Commission, compulsorily retire him.
COM internal services (not policy making)
Budget
Bureau of European Policy Advisers (BEPA)
Informatics
Infrastructures and Logistics
Internal Audit Service (IAS)
Interpretation
Legal Service
Personnel and Administration
Translation (DGT)Eurobarometer est. in
1973
COM meeting time and place
As a general rule, the Commission meets as the College of Commissioners once a week, on Wednesdays in Brussels. During parliamentary sessions in Strasbourg, the Commission holds its meeting there, usually on a Tuesday.
The weekly meetings of the College provide the main opportunity for the Commissioners to come together, engage in political discussion and take collective decisions.
The duties of Members of the Commission include attendance at all meetings of the College. Only the President may decide to release Members from the obligation to be present, in duly justified cases and on the basis of a written request.
Meetings of the Commission are not held in public. Discussions are confidential.
Economic Policy Committee Members
advisory body to the Commission and the Council. It contributes to the Council’s work of coordinating member states’ economic policies
forum for technical discussions between the European Central Bank (ECB), the Economic and Financial Committee, the Employment Committee, the Commission, and social partners.
Composition
comprises 2 delegates from each member state, the Commission, and the ECB. They are senior officials and come from authorities responsible for economic and structural policy.
CJEU rules on
ensures that European Union law is applied in the same way in all the Member States
ensures that the Member States comply with EU law
issues an opinion (which is binding) on the compatibility with EU law of international agreements
reviews the legality of acts of the EU institutions
provides compensation for damage resulting from the action of an EU institution
CJEU does not rule on…
No jurisdiction in matters relating to the common foreign and security policy (CFSP). There are a few exceptions to this rule, specifically relating to ‘sanctions
Structure of CJEU
Court of Justice
references for a preliminary ruling;
infringement proceedings;
actions for annulment and actions for failure to act, relating primarily to legislative acts;
appeals against decisions of the General Court;
General Court
actions brought by individuals or companies against acts of the institutions, including disputes between the European institutions and their staff.
It can also set up specialised courts.
COM represented in CJEU by …
its legal services
Languages
Cases brought before the Court of Justice and General Court may be conducted in any one of the 24 official languages of the European Union.
The Judges deliberate without interpreters in a common language, traditionally French.
