EU institutional triangle Flashcards
What are the three essential institutions ?
European Commission, European Parliament and Council of the European Union
Which branch of the EU is the Commission ?
Executive
How long is the Commission’s term ?
5 years
How many Commissioners are there ?
27, one for each MS
What is a Directorate-General ?
Departments within the Commission in which civil servants develop and implement EU policies
What is the responsibility of the Secretariat-General ?
The overall coordination and the smooth functioning of the Commission
Who names the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy ?
The European Council
Who nominates the Commissioners ?
Their country of origin but the list of nominees must be approved by the European Council
What happens after all the members of the Commission are nominated ?
They appear in front of committees of the Parliament to explain their vision of the portfolio they were allocated.
How are decisions taken in the Commission ?
Collectively. The college generally reaches consensual agreements, but it happens that it comes to a vote. Each Commissioner has one vote, and a simple majority suffices.
What is the role of the Commission ?
It is the sole initiator of EU laws. Only proposals for Regulations and Directives submitted by the Commission can be amended and adopted by the co-legislators.
Is the Parliament directly elected ?
Yes, it is the only one.
What is the European Parliament ?
It is a co-legislator and the voice of the people of the EU.
Where is the Parliament ?
seat in Strasbourg, France
additional plenary sessions/committee meeting in Brussels,Belgium
Secretariat-General in Luxembourg
How many members is there in the EP ?
705 members + 28 MEP’s
What is the concept applied to the number of MEP’s for a MS ?
Degressive proportionality.
How long is the MEP’s term ?
5 years (renewable)
How long is the EP President’s term ?
2.5 years (renewable)
Can the EP initiate a new legislation ?
No, but it can ask the EC to put forward a proposal.
How many seats were left after BREXIT ?
705
What is the role of the Council of the EU ?
It acts as a co-legislator and can adopt, amend or reject proposals tabled by the EC.
We say that the EP is the voice of the peoples of the EU, then to whom is the Council the voice of ?
It is the voice of the EU Member States.
How many configurations of the Council exist ?
10
How can a decision be blocked in the Council ?
At least 4 MS representing at least 35% of population
What is qualified majority voting ?
55% of MS representing 65% of population
