Week 3: The European Commission Flashcards
The Commission
Definition
The executive body of the European Union responsible for proposing legislation, managing the day-to-day administration of the EU, enforcing EU laws, and negotiating international agreements.
The Four key roles of The Commission
1/4
The commission alone has responsibility to initiate legislation.
The Eu cannot legislate in the absence of a proposal from the Commission
- The Commission’s monopoly over policy initiation gave it important agenda-setting power
The The Four key roles of The Commission
2/4
The Commission has a central role in policy management; It is responsible of implementing decision agreed by the Council and the European Parliament
The Four key roles of The Commission
3/4
The Commission is responsible for enforcing EU laws
The Four key roles of The Commission
4/4
The Commission negotiates internation economic agreements on behalf of the EU.
Why delegate (1); Principal-Agent model (P-A model)
The P-A model is used to explain why multiple principals (the member states, the European Parliament) delegate tasks to the European Commission)
- Reducing transaction costs
- Pursuit of collective interest
- Neutral enforcement and implementation
Why delegate (2); How does the P-A model help to understand the design and functions of the Commission?
- Technical expertise
- Knowledge of EU law and procedures
- Oversight over enforcement and implementation
Presidentialism
The concentration of powers and resources in the presidential office
Advantages of the strengthening of the Commission presidency
- It is clear where decisions are taken
- The Commission can prioritize
- More responsive to demands inside and outside the EU system
Disadvantages of the strengthening of the Commission presidency
- Institutional performance depends on president’s skills, judgements, and resources
- Difficult to make use of available talent (if office holders feel excluded)
Two (three) faces of the Commission
- The College of Commissioners (decision-making body (27 individuals))
- The Services (Directorates-General (DG’s) and Secretariat-General)
- The Cabinets (political offices) connect the two
Why is the EU unique compared to other IO’s?
Because it rests on supranational institution to constrain member state power.
The Services of the European Commission
Extremely powerful civil servants, whose longevity in office makes them uniquely capable of setting the agenda and shaping decision-making.
The services consist of Directorates-General (DG) and Secretariat-General.
- The Secretariat-General assist the president and the College of Commissioners.
The Cabinets of the Eurocommissioner
A Eurocommissioner’s personal staff, which serves as a link between the commissioner and the DGs and helps coordinate policy proposals.
The college of Commissioners
The role is to collectively lead the European Commission by proposing EU legislation, implementing policies, enforcing EU laws and managing the EU’s budget.
DG
A department within the European Commission that focuses on specific policy areas and provides technical expertise in the implementation of EU policies.
EU agencies
Institutions that support the European Commission and member states in policy implementation and provide technical expertise.
