Week 1: Why EU institutions matter

Question 1

EU institutions

Define and Name all 7 core institutions

Answer 1

Eu institutions are defined as decision-making bodies;
- The European parliament
- The European Council
- The Council
- The Commission
- The Court of Justice of the EU
- The European Central Bank (ECB)
- The Court of Auditors

Question 2

EU institutional politics

Answer 2

• EU institutional politics structure political life in the EU: different institutions wield different degrees of influence in different policy domains.

Question 3

Dimension 1: Intergovernmental versus Supranational

1/5 dimensions that describe EU institutions

Answer 3

1. Intergovernmental institutions are the institutions representing the interests of the member states. The member states’ (elected) representatives meet to negotiate and define EU policies.
   (e.g. the European Council and the Council of the European Union.)
   Decision-making: defined by intergovernmental negotiations/bargaining
2. Supranational institutions are institutions representing the interests of the Union and making,(semi-)autonomous from national influence, decisions
   (e.g. the Commission and the Court of Justice.)
   Decision-making: defined by bureaucratic/political decision-making

Question 4

Dimension 2: International versus Transnational

2/5 dimensions that describe Eu institutions

Answer 4

1. International institutions derive their authority from national governments (The Commission, The Court of Justice)
2. Transnational institutions derive their authority from societal actors such as citizens, voters and pressure groups rather than national governments (the European Parliament)

Question 5

Dimension 3: Seperated versus Fused

3/5 dimensions that describe EU institutions

What roles do each institution have

Answer 5

• Legislator: The commission, the Council, The European Parliament
• Executive: The Commission, The Council
• Judicial: The Court of Justice, national constitutional courts
• ‘Fourt branch’: The European Court of Auditors, the European Ombudsman (overseeing the accountability and transparency of other EU institutions.)

Question 6

Dimension 4: Leaders versus Followers

4/5 dimensions that describe EU institutions

Answer 6

Can EU institutions set the direction of the European Integration, or do they simply do what member states want?

Question 7

Dimension 5: Legitimate versus contested

5/5 dimensions that describe Eu institutions

Answer 7

• Legitimacy is often tied to the acceptance of authoriy by the people. An institution is considered legitimate if it is widely recognized and accepted as appropriate or rightful.
• Contested It implies a lack of consensus or agreement about the appropriateness of an authority or institution

Question 8

Three important legitimation mechanisms

Answer 8

• Output legitimacy
• Input legitimacy
• Throughput legitimacy

Question 9

Output legitimacy

Answer 9

Based on the quality and effectiveness of government policies. It means that our policies are produced on the basis of expertise and Technical knowledge.

Question 10

Input legitimacy

Answer 10

Comes from the representation and participation of a diverse range of relevant stakeholders in the EU policymaking process.

Question 11

Throughput legitimacy

Answer 11

Derived from the effciency, accountability, transparency, inclusiveness, and openness of the decision-making processes.