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
