Actors and decision making processes in Europe

What are the main decision making institutions in the EU and what do they do?

• European Parliament

• European Commission

• European Council

• Council of European Union

→ provide EU with policies and play different roles in law making process

What are the key functions of the European Parliament?

legislation (equal level as council of European Union), approves EU budget, control of the executive, recruitment of political personnel, and representation

→ get selected directly through EU citizens

→ 7 parliamentary groups (organized by partisan not nation)

What are the main roles of the European Commission?

→ based on art. 17 of treaty of EU:

Promoting the general interest of the Union, ensuring the application of the Treaties, executing the budget, managing programs, and external representation of the Union

—> central mediating body in EU

How is the EC composed?

27 commissioners with 5 year terms

Who elects the President of the European Commission and based on what?

European council proposes the candidate

The European Parliament elects the President (taking into account the outcome of the European elections)

What is the role of the European Council?

provides the Union with the necessary impetus for its development, defines the general political directions and priorities, and coordinates economic and foreign/security policy

→ increase of importance due to crises in Europe

How is the European council composed?

27 heads of government of member states meet

What is the council of European Union also called?

Council or council of ministers

What is the role of the Council of European Union?

• represents each member state

• exercises legislative and budgetary functions,            Coordination and making of national policies

• national ministers from each government meet for a specific policy area:

  → like General Affairs, Foreign Affairs, and others

• takes decisions on European laws jointly with the European Parliamen

How is the Council of European Union composed?

Ten main topic configurations with a president and committee of permanent representatives

How does the EU derive its democratic legitimacy?

From two complementary sources:

• direct representation of citizens → EP

• (indirect) representation of member states → European Council and Council of ministers

What is the European Court of Justice?

• highest court of the EU

• makes sure EU law is followed and the treaties are correctly interpreted and applied across members

→ Primary law = foundational treaties & principles

→ Secondary law = laws made under those treaties

—> CJEU ensures secondary complies with primary

engine of and legal advisor for EU

How is the CJEU composed?

27 judges from each EU country

seat in Luxemburg

What are important legal principles of the CJEU?

→ EU law is binding and above national law

→ principle of conferall

→ principle of subsidiarity

How does the CJEU act?

doesn’t act on own initiative → only listens to cases brought to it

does not hear appeals → reviews rulings

only indirect access via national courts