EU Institutions

Question 1

which EU institution is composed of head of states/governments of the MS + President + President of the Commission?

Answer 1

the European Council

Question 2

which institution takes decisions by unanimity?

Answer 2

the European Council

Question 3

which institution meets for a week every month?

Answer 3

the Parliament

Question 4

which is the most democratic and supranational institution of the EU and why?

Answer 4

the Parliament; because its members are directly elected by EU citizens (1976 Election Act)

Question 5

which institution is composed of national ministers which represent the interests of their states?

Answer 5

the Council

Question 6

which institution meets twice every 6 months?

Answer 6

the European Council

Question 7

which institution elects the President of the Commission?

Answer 7

the Parliament

Question 8

which institution nominates the President of the Commission?

Answer 8

the European Council

Question 9

which institution has Supervisory Powers (power to debate, question, investigate)

Answer 9

the Parliament

Question 10

which institution elects the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy?

Answer 10

the European Council

Question 11

in which institution the quorum is reached with 1/3 of the component members present?

Answer 11

the Parliament (Article 231 TFEU)

Question 12

which institution has:
- Legislative function
- Budgetary function
- Policymaking function
- Concludes international agreements between the EU and Third Countries
- can, in special occasions, act as an executive ?

Answer 12

the Council

Question 13

which institution’s “constitutional norm” is to act by qualified majority?

Answer 13

the Council

Question 14

which institution appoints the President of the European Central Bank?

Answer 14

the European Council

Question 15

which institution has Arbitration powers and can act like a “court”?

Answer 15

the European Council

Question 16

which institution has a Rotating presidency?

Answer 16

the Council

Question 17

which institution elects the President of the Parliament?

Answer 17

the Parliament itself

Question 18

Who is the President of the Council?

Answer 18

tricky question: the Council’s “Presidency” is a depersonalized office (not a single person) held by 3 MS for a period of 18 months (Troika Presidencies)

Question 19

the ‘Coreper’ is a committee of what institution?

Answer 19

the Council

Question 20

Which institution consists of 1 (completely independent) national per Member State?

Answer 20

the Commission

Question 21

the members of which institution are independent from their national governments?

Answer 21

the Parliament and the Commission

Question 22

Which are the three core functions of the Commission? (And in what article are they expressed)

Answer 22

The three core functions of the Commission are:
1. PROMOTE THE GENERAL INTEREST OF THE UNION and take appropriate initiatives to that end (propose legislative bills) -> ‘right of initiative’
2. ENSURE THE APPLICATIONS OF THE TREATIES
3. OVERSEE APPLICATION OF EU LAW

(Article 17 TEU)

Question 23

Which EU institution is divided into Directorates Generals (which are divided in Directorates which are divided into Units) and Services?

Answer 23

the Commission

Question 24

What are the three central bodies of the European Central Bank? (ECB)

Answer 24

• Executive Board
• Supervisory Board
• Governing Council

Question 25

What is the primary objective of the European Central Bank and which TEU article talks about it?

Answer 25

the primary objective of the ECB is the MAINTENANCE OF PRICE STABILITY; no TEU article talks specifically about the ECB; we have to look at the TFEU

Question 26

What are some of the ways in which the ECB maintains price stability?

Answer 26

• ECB is the only one that can authorize the issue of € banknotes
• ECB sets the interest-rates
  (the money supply of the Union is determined by the ECB)

Question 27

What is the main task of the Court of Auditor? Who composes this court

Answer 27

the Court of Auditor is made of (independent) accountants (1 x MS) ; its main task is to carry out the Union’s external audit