other eu insitutions

overview

• these bodies support the main eu insitutions ie commission parl and the council

• they do not usually make laws themselves instead they

  • check and mintor eu activity

  • provdie advice

  • manage key systems

• they often lack binding decision making power but

  • enahnce accoutnability and transparency

  • provide expertise

  • esnure representation at eu level

• accountability bodies= court of auditors and ombudsman

• economic/financial bodies= the european central bank and emu strcutures

• advisory/representative bodies= eesc and committe of regions

• specialised expertise= eu agencies

court of auditors

the eus financial watchdog

• an independenent external audit body essential for financial legitimacy of the eu

• ensures eu money is

  • properly collected

  • properly spent

• plays a. key role in accountability and trasnparency

• it is not a court in the traditional sense= it does not issue legally binding judgements

  • it has no enforcement powers so cannot enforce finding or punish wrong doing

  • instead relies on poltical pressure and other insitutions ie the commission and national authorities

• 1 member from each eu member state

  • members must act indpendantly and not represent their home country politically

  • appointed for 6 years years renewable

core functions

audit of eu finances= examines all eu revenue and expenditure

• ensures money is lawfully collected

• ensures money is lawfully spent

financial accountability= ensures sound financial management

• spending is cost efficient

• resources are used well

• goals are achieved

reporting= promotes transparency and scrutiny by other insitutions

• produces annual report of overall eu finances

• produces special reportd for specific issues or policies

investigative role= idenitifies fraud or irregularities in finances

• but cannot prosecute has no enforcement power or bindingdecisions like a traditional court

• can only refer cases to the commission or national authorities

budgetary role= assists the parliament and council in budgetary control procedures

• court grants discharge to the commission ie approval of how the eu budget was spent

• ensures taxpayers money was well spent

economic monetary union emu

the emu is not a single insitution it is a system

• coordinates

  • economic policies

  • fiscal rules

  • the euro

key components

• the european central bank ecb= goal of price stability (low inflation)

  • controls the euro and monetary policy

  • sets interest rates

  • controls money supply

  • manages the euro

• eurogrpouo= informal group of finance ministers of eurozone countries

  • coordinates economic policy

  • discusses eurozone issues

  • crisis management ie debt crisis

• european stability mechanism esm= a financial rescue fund

  • helps countries in financial crisis

  • provides loans with conditions

  • prevents spread of economic crisis

multispeed europe

not all eu states use the euro leading to different levels of integration

• european system of central banks= all eu states

  • includes european central bank

  • includes all national centra banks eu wide

  • covers the entire eu even non euro states

• euro system= only eurozone

  • inclides european central bank

  • includes national banks of eurozone only

  • the actual system running mometary policy

european central bank ecb

central bank of the eurozone responsible for mentary policy and stability of the euro

• primary objective= price stability

  • keep inflation low and stable

• secondary objective= support eu economic policies

  • but only if price stability is not effected= price stabilitiy always comes first

• is an indpednant eu insiution=

  • no poltiical interference

  • protects monetary policy from poltical pressure and short term government interests

  • funded by national central banks not the eu budget

• has legal personality

  • can ente cntract and own proprty

• not directly elected= wea democratic accountability

internal structure ecb

governing council= main decision making body of the euro

• includes executive board members and governors of eurozone central banks

• sets interest rates

• defines monetary policy

executive board= day to day management

• implements decisions

general council= transitional body

• includes ecb oresident and vice president

• includes all eu centra bank governers

• important because not all states use the euro

advisory bodies

adivosry bodies do not make law

• they provide opinions and advice

  • these opinions are not legally binding

european economic and social committee EESC

• represents eu civil society through

  • businesses, workers and interest groups

• acts as a bridge between eu and citizens

  • goal to improve demoratic legitimacy

• maximun of 350 members divided into

  • employers, workers, interest groups (consumers, farmers , ngos )

  • members represent interests not national governments

• functions to enhance legitimacy and participation

  • mandatory consultation= required in some treaty areas ensuring civil society input into eu law

  • voluntary consultation= isnitutions may consult the eesc for expertise or public opinion

  • own intiitative optoons= can issue opinions independantly allowing proactive involvement though not binding

committee of the regions

• represents local and regional governments

  • ensures eu decisions reflect local needs

  • ensures regional diversity is respected

  • supports subsidiarity principle= decisions taken as close to the citizen as possible

• max of 350 members

  • includes mayors councillors or regional leaders

  • represent terrirotrial interests

• functions= preventing eu law ignpring regional differences

  • mandatory consutation = required in transport, environment ,education and regional policy

  • voluntary consulatation= may consult the cor for expertise

  • own intitiative= can raise issues proactively

  • locus standi= can bring cases before the cjeu to protect its irght to be consulted

    • more power than most advisory bodies

final overview

key roles of insitutions

• accountability= court of auditors

• monetary control= ecb/ emu

• representation= european econmic social committee and committe of the regions

key limtiations

• many bdies lack binding enforcement power and are advisory only

key strengths

• enhance eu transparency and accountability

• promote democratic legitimacy

• enhance expertise in decision making