organizational structure of EU

Question 1

7 principal institutions

Answer 1

• parliament
• european council
• council of ministers
• european commission
• court of justice
• central bank
• court of auditors

Question 2

purpose of commission

Answer 2

promotes the general interest of the EU by proposing and enforcing legislation as well as by implementing policies and the EU budget

Question 3

commission has how many members

Answer 3

27, as many as member states

Question 4

motion of censure

Answer 4

if there is corruption, mismanagement, EU parliament has possibility to make motion of censure and the ENTIRE commission will resign

Question 5

questions to commission

Answer 5

Commission shall reply orally or in writing to questions put to it by the European Parliament or by its Members

Question 6

how are members of commission appointed

Answer 6

by vote of consent of european parliament

Question 7

how is the commission independent

Answer 7

full independence and is not subject to any order or directive from Member States or any other institution
- member states cant force member of commission to resign (even own member)

Question 8

who can resign a commission

Answer 8

voluntary or forced resignation forced by president or CJEU

Question 9

what is collegiality of commission

Answer 9

TAKE TOGETHER THE DECISION AND THEY ALL SUPPORT THE DECISION, AND ARE ALL RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DECISION

Question 10

functions of commission

Answer 10

• budget of EU
• propose new laws
• guardians of treaties

Question 11

members of the council

Answer 11

Government ministers from each EU country

Question 12

what do ministers of the council do

Answer 12

defend and represent the interest of the nations. Everytime they meet in the framework, the ministers express the will and the interest of their representative nations.

Question 13

most important legislative institution of EU

Answer 13

council of ministers

- all legislative acts need to be accepted by the council

Question 14

what kind of body is the commission

Answer 14

executive body

Question 15

how does council make decision

Answer 15

usually qualified majority (55%)

Question 16

what does parliament represent

Answer 16

citizens

Question 17

how does parliament represent different size countreis

Answer 17

bigger country more seats

Question 18

parliament 2 main stages of wrok

Answer 18

• committees to prepare legislation

- plenary sessions to pass legislation

Question 19

court of justice job

Answer 19

interprets EU law to make sure it is applied in the same way in all EU countries and settles legal disputes between national governments and EU institutions
- also in some circumstances action against EU

Question 20

CJEU divided into two courts

Answer 20

• court of justice (preliminary rules)

- general court

Question 21

stages of court of justice

Answer 21

• written stage: parties give written statements to court. decided how many judges, depending on complexity. oral stage decided by advocate general
• oral public stage with lawyers from both sides

Question 22

stages of general court

Answer 22

similar but most cases 3 judge

Question 23

court of auditors

Answer 23

looks after the interests of EU taxpayers

Question 24

3 types of audits

Answer 24

• financial audits
• compliance audits
• performance audits

Question 25

central bank

Answer 25

manages the euro and frames and implements EU economic & monetary policy. Its main aim is to keep prices stable, thereby supporting economic growth and job creation.