lecture 5 - the Council Flashcards

1
Q

The Council

A

=

  • The Council of the European Union
  • Council of Ministers
  • the Council

represents EU member states

Art.9c: Council (with EP) exercises legislative and budgetary functions, policy-making and coordinating functions as in the Treaties

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2
Q

what does the Council do?

A
  1. negotiate and adopt EU law (usually with the EP) = co-legislator
  2. coordinates member states policies (e.g. youth, education, culture)
  3. develop EU Common Foreign and Security Policy (executive)
  4. conclude international agreements (mandate, signature, final decision)
  5. adopts the EU budget (-> member states have decision in budget)
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3
Q

hierarchy within the Council

A
  1. Council of the European Union (27 member states ministers)
  2. COREPER II and I (ambassadors + deputy ambassadors)
  3. Council working groups (national specialist)
    - ‘‘youngest’’ professionals
    = MS’ permanent representation\
  • in between 2 and 3: few specialised committees
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4
Q

10 configurations of the Council

A
  1. general affairs
  2. foreign affairs
  3. economic and financial affairs
  4. justice and home affairs
  5. employment, social policy, health and consumer affairs
  6. competitiveness (internal market, industry, research, and space)
  7. transport, telecommunications, and energy
  8. agriculture and fisheries
  9. environment
  10. education, youth, culture and sport

still: it is one council (-> same authority: all configurations can make decisions on all topics)

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5
Q

General Affairs Council

A

GAC

  • prepares and follows-up European Council meetings
  • general coordination of policies
  • institutional and administrative questions
  • horizontal dossiers affecting more than one Union policy (e.g. MFF)
  • any dossier sent by the European Council
  • ensures consistency in the work of all Council configurations in cooperation with the European Commission

= ministers of foreign affairs or European affairs (if they can’t -> people from permanent representation)

!always also representatives form the European Commission: they discuss, but don’t vote

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6
Q

Foreign Affairs Council

A

FAC
= foreign affairs ministers

Chaired by the HRVP, except when discussion is on trade (then: rotating presidency)
*all other council configurations are chaired by rotating presidency

Deals with EU’s external relations (+ ensures consistency)

  • Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP)
  • Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP)
  • Common Commercial Policy (CCP)
  • Development and Humanitarian Aid

!! there can be tensions between these interests

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7
Q

Council presidency

A

= rotating every 6 months

  • tasks: chairs council meetings (except FAC (has semi-permanent elected HRVP and EEAS))
  • responsibility: everyday functioning council

!no single president: presidency is shared by whole gov. of a MS, it can emphasize its own priorities
!!rotating presidency is shared: trio seat/shared presidency: 1.5 years common agenda (mix = size and location)

main roles:

  1. organizational role (supported by the Council Secretariat General)
    - Secretariat General (or his/her representative) sits next to the chair
  2. Broker role: presidency should not push for own agenda, should facilitate consensus
  3. Leadership role: 6 month working plan, Trio-presidency multi-annual program
  4. external representation: towards EP, Commission and ‘‘outside world’’
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8
Q

Committees and working groups

A

= working level

COREPER II (most senior)
(preparation by ANTICI-group)

  • General Affairs and External Relations
  • Economy and Finances
  • Justice and Home Affairs

COREPER I (more junior)
(preparation by MERTENS-group)

  • employment
  • social policy
  • health
  • consumer protection
  • competitiveness
  • youth
  • sports
  • environment
  • agriculture
  • energy
  • etc.

> 260 committees and working groups / working parties

4 important ones:

  1. Political and Security Committee (PSC)
  2. Trade Policy Committee (TPC)
  3. Special Committee on Agriculture (SCA)
  4. Economic and Finance Committee
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9
Q

Voting and Decisions within the Council

A
  • QMV unless treaty provides otherwise
    = complicated calculation)

common foreign and security policy not done with QMV

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10
Q

QMV

A

at least 55% Council Members & at least 15 MS representing at least 65% of the EU population

  • blocking minority must include at least 4 Council Members
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11
Q

moving of ‘dossiers’

A
  1. Commission Proposal
  2. working group(s)
  3. COREPER I or II
    -> marks resolved issues as A points
    -> marks unresolved issues as B points
  4. Council of Ministers

*between step 2 and 3 = Committee

! don’t underestimate lower decision-making levels: working groups are crucial (-> lots of lobbying there)

  • e.g. bad reputation if you debate A points
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12
Q

important to remember

A
  • the Council is the representation of Member States
  • it is often thought of as an intergovernmental institution
  • it negotiates and adopts EU law (with the EP), coordinates member states policies, develops CFSP, concludes international agreements and adopts EU budget
  • Council has 10 formations
  • Presidency in most areas is rotating
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