EU for the Fast Stream © Crown Copyright 2007 EU for the Fast Stream Jon Worth [email protected]

EU for the Fast Stream© Crown Copyright 2007

EU for the FastStream

Jon Worth

[email protected]


COURT OF

JUSTICE AUDITORS

COURT OF

Economic and Social Committee

European Ombudsman

Main Institutions of the EU

THE INSTITUTIONAL

TRIANGLE

PARLIAMENT

COMMISSION

COUNCILof the European Union


European Commission

• The Executive of the EU institutions

• Can mean both the College of Commissioners, and the Commission services

Berlaymont Building, Brussels

“Guardian of the Treaties”


“The Members of the Commission shall be chosen on the grounds of their general competence and their independence shall be beyond doubt.

The Commission shall include one national ofeach of the Member States”

(Art. 213)


European Commission - Structure


European Commission

drafts policy documents and EC legislation

executes EC legislation

prepares the budget

manages Community finances

monitors Member States’ compliance with EC law

represents the EU externally (e.g. WTO)

assesses states’ applications for membership


European Parliament

Brussels

Strasbourg

“The European Parliament … shall consist of representatives of the peoples of the states brought together in the Community …”

(Art. 189)

EU for the Fast Stream© Crown Copyright 2007 5

99

78

785 MEPs


Germ

any (

99)

Fra

nce (

78)

Italy

(78)

United K

ingdom

(78)

Pola

nd (

54)

Spain

(54)

Rom

ania

(35)

Neth

erlands (

27)

Belg

ium

(24)

Czech R

epublic

(24)

Gre

ece (

24)

Hungary

(24)

Port

ugal (2

4)

Sw

eden (

19)

Austr

ia (

18)

Bulg

aria (

17)

Denm

ark

(14)

Fin

land (

14)

Slo

vakia

(14)

Lithuania

(13)

Rep.

of

Irela

nd (

13)

Latv

ia (

9)

Slo

venia

(7)

Cypru

s (

6)

Esto

nia

(6)

Luxem

bourg

(6)

Malta (

5)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

Total:785 MEPs


Roles in the EP

Has its own President

14 Vice Presidents

20 Committee Chairs

Delegations, Rapporteurs,Group Coordinators

Civil servants can speak to anyof these (within reason)


European Parliament

considers legislation

passes reports

approves the Commission

questions Commissioners / Council

approves the Budget


Council of the

“The Council shall consist of a representative of each Member State at ministerial level, authorised to commit the Government of that Member State”

(Art. 203)Justus Lipsius Building,

Brussels

European Union

a legislative body representing the interests of the Member States


Council HierarchyWhitehall

UK PermanentRepresentation (UKrep)

Working groups

COREPER I / II, SCA

Council

Art 133 Cttee PSC etc. CATS / SCIFA


Council Formations

General Affairs and External Relations

(GAERC)

Economic andFinancial Affairs

(ECOFIN)

Agricultureand

Fisheries

Justice and Home Affairs

(JHA)

Competitiveness (Internal Market,

Industry and Research)

Transport, Telecommunications

and Energy

Employment,Social Policy, Health

and Consumer Affairs

Environment

Education, Youth and

Culture


Population of EU Member States

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Po

pu

lati

on

(m

illi

on

s)


Voting Weights of EU Member States

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Nu

mb

ers

of

Vo

tes

Qualified Majority Voting (QMV)

• 345 votes, 255 required for majority

• Simple majority of member states (i.e. 14)

• States representing 62% of the EU’s population

From 2014 / 2017:

• 55% of Member States

• 65% of the EU population


European Council

meeting of the Heads of States and Governments

meets 4 times a year (2 per Presidency)

no formal decision making powers

“The European Council shall provide the Union with the necessary impetus for its development and shall define the general political guidelines thereof”

(Art.4)


All the EU institutions…

THE INSTITUTIONAL

TRIANGLE

COURT OF

JUSTICE AUDITORS

COURT OF

Economic and Social Committee

PARLIAMENT

COMMISSION

European Ombudsman

COUNCILof the European Union


… not to be confused with

Non-EU European Institutions: Council of Europe, European Court of Human Rights, ECHR, EBRD

… but the EU does have its own courts, banks and councils – avoid falling into the vocabulary trap!


Pillars of the European Union

European Union

CFSP

TEU

IIEC

ECSCEURATOM

TEC

I

TEU

IIIPJCCM

Pillar I – traditional areas of EU decision making, codecision with Parliament, majority voting in Council

Pillar II – Common Foreign & Security Policy, different legal instruments, consultation with Parliament, unanimity

Pillar III – Police & Judicial Cooperation in Criminal Matters, different legal instruments, consultation with Parliament, unanimity


Types of Community Legislation

Directives

binding, as to the result to be achieved, upon each Member State to which they are addressed

choice of form and methods left to national authorities

Regulations

general application

binding in their entirety

directly applicable in all Member States


Council Deliberates

Consultation with industryand lobby groups

PolicyStatement

Parliament Amends

Commission View of EP Amendments

1st Reading

MemberStates

implement

Directive Agreed

Council agrees to EP amendments

Commission Draft Directive

Co-Decision


Council Deliberates


PolicyStatement

Parliament Amends


1st Reading


Council Accepts

Parliament Amends

Commission Accepts

Absolute Majority

MemberStates

implement

2nd Reading

Common Position

Directive Agreed



PolicyStatement

Parliament Amends


1st Reading


Council Rejects

MemberStates

implement

Directive Agreed

Council Deliberates

Parliament Amends

2nd Reading

Common Position

ConcilationParliament Negotiates Council

Negotiates

Commission Negotiates

Commission Rejects


Pillar II Instruments

Decisions

General GuidelinesOverall priorities and features of CFSP, including on

matters with defence implications

Common Strategy

Describes the approach towards a certain country or region,

across pillars

Joint Action

Addresses specific situations where

operational action is required

Common Position

Approach of the EU to a particular matter

(geographic or thematic)

Decision

Implementation measure for CFSP

Declaration

Statement with regard to an international political development


European Council

General Affairs & External Relations Council

High Representative

for CFSPCOREPER

Political & Security

Committee (PSC / COPS)

European Military

Committee (EUMC)

EU Military Staff (EUMS)

Committee for Civilian Aspects of

Crisis Management

(CIVCOM)

Council Secretariat-Policy Planning and Early Warning Unit

-Joint Situation Centre (SitCen)

-DG E

Commission-College

-External Relations Commissioner

-External Relations DG

Special Representatives

Personal Representatives

Working Groups

CFSP & ESDP Decision Making Structures

Monitoring Missions

Correspondents’ Group

Legal & Financial

Aspects of CFSP

(RELEX)

Member State

MFAs


Common Positions

Define the approach of MS towards a certain issue. Not legally binding

Framework Decisions

(for approximation of laws and regulations)

Approximation of the laws and regulations of the MS. Binding with regard to the result to be achieved and not with regard tothe form and methods chosen - comparable to Directives under First Pillar. No direct effect.

Decisions

Conventions

For any other purpose other than theapproximation of laws. Council may adopt implementing measures by qualified-majority.No direct effect.

Ratification procedure in all MS. Once adopted by 1/2 MS, may enter into force for those States. Member States in Council may adopt implementing measures by a majority of 2/3 of the contracting Parties

Pillar III Instruments

Documents

EU for the Fast Stream © Crown Copyright 2007 EU for the Fast Stream Jon Worth [email protected]