Zusammenfassung der Ressource
THE EUROPEAN UNION (EU)
- THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL
- 'Setting the agenda'
- Sets EU overall political
direction and priorities
- Cannot pass laws
- Led by a President
- Brings together heads of state or government from every EU member
- Ministers from each of the member states
- Makes decisions by unanimity qualified majority vote or simple majority
- THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
- Represents EU citizens (directly voted by them)
- Debates and passes EU law
- Scrutinises other EU institutions to make sure they are working democratically
- Debates and adoptes the EU budget
- Around 700 MEP's
- Can scrutinise, pass, amend and reject legislation
- Cannot appoint the executive
- THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
- Involved in EU legislation
- Represents governments of each member state
- Presidency shared by member states on rotating basis
- passes EU laws
- Coordinates the broad economic policies of EU member states
- Approves annual budget
- THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION
- Forms the executive and bureaucratic wing of the EU
- Proposes legislation
- 20 appointed members (unelected)
- Monitors compliance with EU legislation
- Manages EU policies and spending EU
funds
- Represents the EU internationally
- COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EU
- ECJ - Adjudicates disputes brought by states, individuals and companies
- EC - Consists primarily of member states' heads of government
- Upholds rules of the EU
- Makes sure law is applied in same way in all member states
- Settles legal disputes between EU gov. and
EU Institutions
- Court helped by 9 'advocate-generals'