Lecture 6 (Week 41) - The European Parliament and the European Court of Justice. Organized interests and policy making in the EU Flashcards
The composition of the european Parliament: Does EP have a president and for how long is the president elected?
● The EP has a President, a Bureau, a Conference of Presidents and a Secretariat (279).
○ The President
■ Elected by the MEP (members of the EP) for a two-and-half year renewable term (279).
● Normally elected between two major parties: The European people’s party (EPP) and Social Democrats
■ Represent EP in official matters and leads debates
■ the current president focuses on gender equality. climate change and sustainability. supports transparency.
Why have the EP gained more power after the creation back in 1979?
- Most of its members have lobbied for increased powers for the EP within their national parties.
- The argument that the powers of the EP needed to be increased in order to close the “democrativ deficit”. Argument consistently used by the EP.
a. “Democratic deficit” in the EU, refers to a perceived lack of accessibility to the ordinary citizen, or lack of representation of the ordinary citizen, and lack of accountability of European Union institutions. - The EP has made the most extensive use possible of its existing powers, and tried to stretch the definition of those powers.
Why have the EP gained more power after the creation back in 1979?
- Most of its members have lobbied for increased powers for the EP within their national parties.
- The argument that the powers of the EP needed to be increased in order to close the “democrativ deficit”. Argument consistently used by the EP.
a. “Democratic deficit” in the EU, refers to a perceived lack of accessibility to the ordinary citizen, or lack of representation of the ordinary citizen, and lack of accountability of European Union institutions. - The EP has made the most extensive use possible of its existing powers, and tried to stretch the definition of those powers.
Do The Court of Justice of the European Court (CJEU): have an opinion about the integration process in the EU?
● The CJEU has been criticized for stepping beyond its legal role into the realm of politics (298).
● The CJEU has been accused of ruling in favour of integrationist solutions (298).
○ “judicial activism”
What is the function of the court of justice?
● It is the responsibility of the CJEU to ensure that the law is observed in the interpretation and application of the EU treaties (300).
● The court has wide jurisdiction to hear various types of action and to give preliminary rulings. The court may hear several different categories, such as: (300)
● It has been argued that in the past the CJEU has done more than any other institution to advance European integration (301).
Why have the CJEU Rulings had a Political Impact on the creation of the single European market?
● The original route to creating a common market was based upon agreeing harmonized regulation (307).
○ In 1979 the CJEU made a ruling known as the Cassis de Dijon - if goods lawfully met the standards of one member state, they should be accepted for sale in another member state. This principle was fundamental to the achievement of the single market, since it made clear that it was not necessary to harmonize legislation of the single market (307).
Organized Interests: why did interest groups around Brussels increase after the creation of SEM?
● Interest group activity grew especially from the launch of the Single Market Union (SEM, 1980’s) (316).
○ Also, the rise in policy areas for the EU has caused the increase.
the lobbying industry has increased proportionally the centralization of power within the EU.
How can the introduction of QMV made the commission legislation procedure less sensible for the lobbying industry influence?
● The move towards QMV within the Commission for most policy areas, makes it less sensible to lobby only at the national level (318).
○ One country has no veto right
○ lobbyist, therefore, have to persuasive more than on actor
