European Commission Flashcards
What is the European Commission?
EU executive arm, proposing legislation, and civil service, implementing policy and programmes.
Sets the budget.
What is the European Council?
Member states heads of government sit on the Council, sets the agenda: summits and treaties, no legislative function.
What is the Council of Ministers?
Member of States’ heads of departments make this up so like Health Ministers, legislative function (co-decision), join budgetary authority
What is the European Court of Justice?
28 judges and 8 advocates general, interpretation and rulings on EU Law
What is the European Parliament?
Elected reps from member states represent their states’ views. Legislative function (co-decision or consent)
Joint budgetary authority
Current President of the Commission?
Juncker Commission (2014-2019?
Functions of the European Commission?
- Guardian of Treaties
- Autonomous policy-maker in some areas
- Only one which can propose new laws/legislation
- Drafts the budget
- International Representation - negotiates external agreements (e.g trade).
- Mediator
What is the College of the Commissioners?
One Commissioner from each member state - they are the political leadership of the Commission.
How many Presidents and VPs are there?
One President, 7 VPs.
How long is each President’s term?
5 years, renewable.
How is the next President selected?
Proposed by the European Council, approved by the Parliament
High Representative for Foreign Affairs goes through the same selection process as who?
The President, is also a VP.
Each commissioner?
Five year terms (renewable)
One of 27 policy portfolios e.g Transport, Trade, Energy
Supported by Cabinet: 6/7 policy advisers.
Who is Cecilia Malmstrom?
Trade Commissioner (2014-2019)
Commissioner for Home Affairs (2010-2014).
She’s Swedish Liberal Party.
Represents EU in the WTO and other international organisations.
Negotiates trade agreements with non-EU countries.
Commissioners must say:
- they’re completely independent in doing what’s best for the Union
- that they take no instruction from any government or from any other institution, body or office.
What is the Commission’s Bureaucracy?
It’s divided into 33 Directorates-General of Policy Areas (Agriculture, Competition, Environment, Internal Market etc).
External Relations (Neighbourhood Policy, International Cooperation and Development, Trade).
General (Budget, Translation)
PLUS Services Departments (legal services)
What do Directorate Generals do?
They build networks of interest groips.
How many Commission Services?
Approx 23,000 staff
What are the formal powers of the EC?
Policy Making Role
Define Problem and Offer Policy Solution
Autonomy strong in some areas e.g competition
What are the informal powers of the EC?
Influence through delegation and process
Expertise, knowledge and networks
Vital mediating role (building consensus).
Intergovernmentalist or Supranationalist?
Agent of Member States or Autonomous policy maker?
The role of being the policy entrepreneur is dependent on what?
International Climate and Member State Support
Institutional Consensus on EU Agenda
Institutional Balance of Power
Strong, Visionary and Unified Commission Leaders
Is EC legitimate?
Commission design - rule by experts
Executive powers but the commissioners aren’t elected?
Citizens input is insignificant
How to gain more democratic legitimacy?
2014 EP elections - spitzencandidaten system led to greater transparency and accountability
Learnt from past Commission failures such as Santer
Opportunities for the EC?
Extension of Supranational Powers - more EU policy integration and QMV extended.
Problems for the EC?
- Impact of crises - Eurozone, Migration, Security, Climate Change
- Impact of Brexit?
- Power and Effectiveness diluted since 2014? - enlargement: more difficult to achieve consensus. Was Lisbon a shift in institutional balance of power?
- Capacity - have we enough resources to act?
- Legitimacy: a continued restraint?
