European Commission

Question 1

What is the European Commission?

Answer 1

EU executive arm, proposing legislation, and civil service, implementing policy and programmes.
Sets the budget.

Question 2

What is the European Council?

Answer 2

Member states heads of government sit on the Council, sets the agenda: summits and treaties, no legislative function.

Question 3

What is the Council of Ministers?

Answer 3

Member of States’ heads of departments make this up so like Health Ministers, legislative function (co-decision), join budgetary authority

Question 4

What is the European Court of Justice?

Answer 4

28 judges and 8 advocates general, interpretation and rulings on EU Law

Question 5

What is the European Parliament?

Answer 5

Elected reps from member states represent their states’ views. Legislative function (co-decision or consent)
Joint budgetary authority

Question 6

Current President of the Commission?

Answer 6

Juncker Commission (2014-2019?

Question 7

Functions of the European Commission?

Answer 7

• 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

Question 8

What is the College of the Commissioners?

Answer 8

One Commissioner from each member state - they are the political leadership of the Commission.

Question 9

How many Presidents and VPs are there?

Answer 9

One President, 7 VPs.

Question 10

How long is each President’s term?

Answer 10

5 years, renewable.

Question 11

How is the next President selected?

Answer 11

Proposed by the European Council, approved by the Parliament

Question 12

High Representative for Foreign Affairs goes through the same selection process as who?

Answer 12

The President, is also a VP.

Question 13

Each commissioner?

Answer 13

Five year terms (renewable)
One of 27 policy portfolios e.g Transport, Trade, Energy
Supported by Cabinet: 6/7 policy advisers.

Question 14

Who is Cecilia Malmstrom?

Answer 14

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.

Question 15

Commissioners must say:

Answer 15

• 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.

Question 16

What is the Commission’s Bureaucracy?

Answer 16

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)

Question 17

What do Directorate Generals do?

Answer 17

They build networks of interest groips.

Question 18

How many Commission Services?

Answer 18

Approx 23,000 staff

Question 19

What are the formal powers of the EC?

Answer 19

Policy Making Role
Define Problem and Offer Policy Solution
Autonomy strong in some areas e.g competition

Question 20

What are the informal powers of the EC?

Answer 20

Influence through delegation and process
Expertise, knowledge and networks
Vital mediating role (building consensus).

Question 21

Intergovernmentalist or Supranationalist?

Answer 21

Agent of Member States or Autonomous policy maker?

Question 22

The role of being the policy entrepreneur is dependent on what?

Answer 22

International Climate and Member State Support
Institutional Consensus on EU Agenda
Institutional Balance of Power
Strong, Visionary and Unified Commission Leaders

Question 23

Is EC legitimate?

Answer 23

Commission design - rule by experts
Executive powers but the commissioners aren’t elected?
Citizens input is insignificant

Question 24

How to gain more democratic legitimacy?

Answer 24

2014 EP elections - spitzencandidaten system led to greater transparency and accountability
Learnt from past Commission failures such as Santer

Question 25

Opportunities for the EC?

Answer 25

Extension of Supranational Powers - more EU policy integration and QMV extended.

Question 26

Problems for the EC?

Answer 26

• 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?