W1 Concepts - Institutions and Powers Flashcards
How many member states are there of the EU?
27
What are the two founding treaties of the EU, akin to a constitution?
Treaty on European Union (TEU)
Treaty on the Functioning of European Union (TFEU)
Which of the two founding treaties (TEU and TFEU) takes precedence?
Neither. Each have equal weight.
What do the TEU and TFEU do?
Define the institutions of the EU and their powers, including competencies and mechanisms
What kind of cooperation is defined in the TEU and TFEU between member states?
“Mutual sincere cooperation”
Where are the institutions of the EU established?
Article 13 of the TEU
What are the institutions of the EU?
European Commission
European Parliament
Council of the European Union
European Council
Court of Justice of the European Union
Which are the lawmaking institutions of the EU?
European Commission
European Parliament
Council of the European Union
Who makes up the European Council?
Heads of State/Government of the member states
What defines the powers and responsibilities of the European Council?
Art 15 of TEU
What is the role of the European Council?
Sets policy direction in broad terms for the EU (e.g. climate change is a priority)
Who makes up the Council of the European Union?
Ministers from the governments of the member states
Ministers will be sent if a bill for discussion falls under their national purview (e.g. carbon tax bill -> Environmental Minister)
What defines the powers of the Council of the European Union?
Art 16 of TEU
What is the role of the Council of the European Union?
Lawmaking function
Commit their government to the policy being discussed
Debate, amend, and vote on proposed laws
What is QMV and why is it significant?
Qualified Majority Voting
Means that not all decisions need be unanimous (treaties sometimes stipulate when a unanimous decision is required)
“Majority” is calculated based on each member state’s population, etc
Who makes up the European Parliament?
MEPs directly elected by the populace of their member state
What defines the powers of the European Parliament?
Art 14 of the TEU
What is the role of the European Parliament?
Lawmaking function
Debate, amend, and vote on proposed laws
Who makes up the European Commission?
1 Commissioner per member state, each in charge of a particular policy area
Not representing their member state’s interests or a particular party
What is the role of the European Commission?
Represent and promote EU policy (not member state)
Monitor/supervise/enforce EU legislation
Legislative initiative
What defines the powers of the European Commission?
Art 17 of the TEU
Who is head of the European Commission?
Ursula von der Leyen
What is legislative initiative?
Right to initiate/propose legislation
What is the process for new EU legislation?
It is proposed by the European Commission
Then debated/amended/voted on by both the European Parliament and the Council of the EU (in any order)
Where is the competency of the EU defined?
Art 4 and 5 of the TEU
What is the Principle of Conferral?
EU only has the powers conferred upon it by the treaties
Silence in the treaties means the EU does not have competency in that policy area
Does the EU Parliament have parliamentary sovereignty?
No, can only legislate within the EU’s competency, as conferred by the treaties
