Procedures Flashcards
Adoption of annual Commission WP. Describe steps.
Mid-September: SOTEU - priorities next year; EC PRES & VP (Interinstitutional) send letter of Intent to EP & Council Presidency –> kick-starts dialogue
September/Oct:
- EC PRES meets EP’s Conference of PRESIDENTS: EP PRES + pol. group chairs (+ 1 representative non-attached; consensus/weighted vote)
- EC takes into account views of EP’s Conference of COMMITTEE CHAIRS
- EC hears view of EESC + CoR
Mid-October:
- EC adopts annual work programme; presents to EP & institutional partners
- on basis of the EC WP, Commission, EP & Council establish JOINT DECLARATION on the EU legislative priorities (common priorities since 2016)
Appointment of the Commission president
- every 5 years, the European Council (acting by qualified majority) proposes a Commission presidential candidate to the EP
- Candidate proposed on basis of political makeup of Parliament following EP elections; typically chosen from largest political family in the EP
- Elected if supported by absolute majority (= majority of component members) of members of Parliament.
Appointment of Commissioners
President-elect selected potential VPs and Commissioners based on suggestions from EU countries; list of nominees has to be adopted, by common accord with the president-elect, by the Council
Each nominee must appear before the parliamentary committee with responsibility for his or her proposed portfolio; Committee members vote on suitability
Once 27 nominees have been endorsed; EP as a whole votes whether or not to approve the entire team
Following Parliament’s vote, Commissioners appointed by the European Council (acting by qualified majority)
Accountability of EC
EC held democratically accountable by EP; EP has right to approve and dismiss the entire pol leadership of the Commission
EC also accountable for budget implementation - EP responsible for discharge! (Gives (or not) blessing to EC on how managed budget)
Decision-taking in the College of Commissioners
Consensus
Any member may ask for a vote. The quorum is the majority of members.
Groups des Relations Interinstitutionelles (GRI)
Weekly on Friday morning. SG may organise a prep meeting.
- Prepares COM positions vis a vis co-legislators, and EESC, CoR, and national parliaments.
- Prepares follow-up to EP interpellations, resolutions, and questions.
- External action aspects and Art 218 (agreement between the Union and third countries) are not covered.
Chaired by dHoC of the Pres, SG provides the secretariat, DGs design their representative members.
Unsolved matters or special files are escalated to HEBDO and if necessary to College.
College approves all file with or without discussion. COM positions may be expressed only after College endorsement.
Group for External Coordination
Weekly on Wednesday afternoon. SG may organise a prep meeting.
- prepares external aspects of College meetings
Co-chaired by Diplomatic Adviser of the Pres [do you know who (s)he is?] see below and dHoC of HR/VP. Each CAB designates a standing Member.
EXCO conclusions will be validated by College.
… Fernando Andresen Guimaraes
Hebdo
Weekly meeting of Heads of Cabinet
Objective: prepare College meeting
Monday morning, or afternoon in plenary weeks
RSCC - Special meetings of Cabinets
RSCC
Chaired by a Pres advisor
Members are member of Cabinets
Prepare special files to HEBDO
European Council Strategic Agenda
- set once every 5 years (alongside elections for the EP)
- prepared in a yearlong process starting with a letter by the European Council
European Commission (EC) Political guidelines
- set once every 5 years (alongside elections for the EP)
- 2019 - 2024:
Promoting our European Way of Life
The European Green Deal
A Europe fit for the digital age
An economy that works for the people
A new push for European democracy
A strong Europe in the world
Ordinary legislative procedure (OLP): since which Treaty?
Codecision renamed OLP with Lisbon Treaty and became main decision-making procedure.
Codecision procedure was first introduced in 1992 and its use extended in 1999
OLP main elements:
Article 289 & Article 294 TFEU (incl. QMV in Council)
applies to 85 legal bases since Lisbon
1) COM submits proposal to Council and EP
2) Council and EP adopt a legislative proposal either at 1st reading or 2nd reading
3) if no agreement after 2nd reading: conciliation committee is convened
4) if text agreed in conciliation committee is acceptable to both institutions at the third reading, the legislative act is adopted
OLP Legal basis
Article 289 and 294 TFEU
Art 289.4: in specific cases provided for by the Treaties, legislative acts may be adopted on the initiative of a group of MS or of the EP, on a recommendation from the ECB or at the request of the ECJ or the EIB
Art 294: explains 1,2,3 reading and conciliation procedure
Special legislative procedure (SLP) meaning
Means that council is the ONLY legislator