institutions Flashcards
Commission functions
- proposes new laws
- guardian of the treaties
- sets EU spending priorities together with EP and the C
- draws up annual budgets for approval by the C and EP
- supervises how the money is spent under scrutiny of the Court of Auditors
- enforces EU law together with CofJ
- represents the EU internationally
- speaks on behalf of all EU countries in international bodies (esp in trade policy and humanitarian aid areas)
- negotiates international agreements for the EU
Commission composition
administrative dimension = officials
- day-to-day running
- departments called Directorates-General (most prestigious posts - each responsible for specific policy area organised sectoraly - DG Agri or functionally - DG Budget; led by Director-General)
- Service departments - Secretariat-General - manages relationships between Comm and other key institutions, led by secretary-general = first among equals)
- European statistical office (eurostat)
legal service (commission’s legal expertise)
- committees - help with preparatory work on new legislation
political dimension = college of commissioners
- 27 commissioners (one from each country)
- led by Comm. President (decides who is responsible for which policy area)
- 8 vice presidents (incl 3 executive vice-presidents)
- High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
- 18 commissioners (each responsible for a portfolio + having their own cabinet of advisors from at least 3 nationalities)
commission appointment process
commissioners
- appointed by MS
president
- candidate put forward by NG in the European Council + need support of majority of EP to be elected
- spitzenkandidat
commission decision-making principle
principle of collegiality - consensus (all are responsible for decisions taken)
if can’t agree => voting (very rare)
as of late - interactions directly with president (primus inter pares -> primus super pares?)
EP’s role in Commission
- able to dismiss whole college by a vote of confidence
- EP committees scrutinise nominated commissioners + political program of the president
EP’s functions
legislative
- pass EU laws together with the C
- decides on international agreements
- decides on enlargements
- reviews comm’s work programme
supervisory
- democratic scrutiny of all EU institutions
- electing comm’s president and approving Commission as a body
examining citizens’ petitions and setting up inquiries
budgetary
- establishing EU’s budget together with the C
- approving EU’s long-term budget - the multuannual financial framework (every 6 years)
EP’s composition
MEPs - number proportionate to each country’s population (noone can have less than 6 and more than 96 MEPs + total number cannot be more than 705 (incl president); MEPs are grouped by political affiliation not nationality
- led by president (figurehead) who represents EP to other institutions and outside world + final go-ahead to the budget + chairs plenary
- vice presidents - support president and help to run EP
- committee chairs - organise and run committee meetings
EP’s work process
2 stages:
1. committees - to prepare legislation (20 + 3 subcommittees each handling particular policy area + each composed of members from each political group proportionately as the whole)
- MEPs = rapporteurs to draft reports + shadow rapporteurs from another political groups
- 2 further types:
a. special committees - 12 month mandate + report on urgent issues, e.g. Beating cancer or AI in digital age
b. committees of inquiry - investigate breaches or maladministration of EU law, e.g. emission measurement
- plenary sessions - to pass legislation
- meets in Strasbourg or Brussels
EP’s procedures
- OLP
- SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE PROCEDURES:
1. consent - EP can accept or reject but cannot amend proposal
a. legislative - covers combatting discrimination, establishment of public prosecutor’s office, any legislation adopted under subsidiary legal basis
b. non-legislative - covers international agreements to which OLP applies, cases of breach of fundametal rights, accession of new members, withdrawal from the EU
- consultation
- EP can accept, amend or reject proposal (Council cannot act without EP opinion)
a. legislative
- covers internal market exemptions, competition law
b. non-legislative
- international agreements adopted under common foreign security policy
EP elections
- only institution with direct elections
- every 5 years
- can vote all around EU even if non-national
- conducted on proportional representation but different countries = different systems
the Council - composition
- ministers from MS
- rotationg presidency - each country 6 months - grouped into blocks of 3 for 18 months long periods = presidency trio - COREPER = permanent representatives to the EU (so called national ambassadors to the EU)
- prepares forthcoming council meetings
- 2 permanent representatives per MS
- live in Brussels => meet weekly
COREPER 1 - deputy permanent representatives - preparing “technical” councils (SEM, OLP, enviro, edu&youth&culture&sport, transport, employment etc)
COREPER 2 - EU permanent representation (ambassadors) (GA, FA, J&HA, accession, budget etc)
- Coreper 1 and coreper 2 both establish a and b points- A points – points that require no detailed discussion in the council – just voting or agreement – formal yes
- B points – more sensitive matters – require bit more discourse
- False b points – things that can’t be passed without discussion even if all people agree on it (send money to ukraine – sensitive topic and eu has a strong position on what we are doing but still needs to be discussed – needs public discourse)
- working groups
- cca 150 - national officials specialising in specific areas
- examining proposals in early stages of negotiations - focused on less controversial and more technocratic issues - general secretariat
- bureaucracy
- legal service - deep knowledge of treaties’ legal bases
- Directorate for quality of legislation - similar function as legal service but not its subgroup
private office of secretary-general - changed only 7 times = continuity and leadership
- logistical assistance to president
- note-taking of meetings, vote calculating, translating
the Council - functions
- with EP = main decision-making body
- negotiates and adopts EU laws
- coordinates EU countries’ policies
- develops EU’s foreign and security policy based on Eu Council guidelines
- concludes agreements between EU and other countries
- adopts annual budget (together with EP)
the Council - meetings
- in Brussels except april, june, october - Luxembourg
- meets in 10 configurations based on policy areas (=> each country sends corresponding minister)
- Foreign Affairs has permanent chair (High repre), other meetings chaired by relevant ministers from country holding rotation presidency
- Eurogroup - only for countries in eurozone, represented by economy/finance inisters - meeting day before Econ.&Fin. Council meeting (formally approved here)
the council - voting
- decisions by QMV (55% of countries = 15/27, representing 65% of total population) - default voting rule
- blocking minority - 4 countries representing 35% of total population
- unanimity - sensitive topics = taxation, foreign & security policy, EU citizenship, accession, finances
- simple majority - for procedural and administrative issues (14 council members)
European Council function
- decides on EU’s overall direction and political priorities
- does NOT pass laws
- deals with complex and sensitive issues that cannot be resolved at lower levels
- sets EU’s common foreign and security policy
- nominates and appoints candidates to certain high profile EU level roles (ECB and Commission)
