EU Institutions

EU Institutions

European Parliament
1. Directly elected parliamentary institution of the EU.
2. Works with the European Commission to exercise the legislative functions of the EU.
3. 751 members, who represent the second largest democratic electorate in the world, and the largest trans-national democratic electorate in the world.
4. Based in 3 different countries, 12 plenary sessions are held in Strasbourg - the parliaments official seat.
  1. Committee meetings are held in Brussels.
  2. Luxembourg hosts the Secretariat of the European Parliament.
5. Only assembly in the world with more than one meeting place and one of the few that has no control over its own location
6. Elections take place every 5 years by universal audit suffrage, 75 MEPs are elected, which has been directly elected since 1979, no other EU institution is directly elected.
European Commission
1. The executive body of the European Union responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the EU treaties and managing the day-to-day business of the EU.
2. Operates as a cabinet government, with 28 members of the commission.
  1. One member per member state - members are bound by their oath of office to represent the general interest of the EU as a whole rather than their home state.
3. Functions and Powers of the European Commission
  1. Sole right to initiate draft legislation (Except foreign and security)
  2. Executes and administers EU legislation
  3. Administers EU expenditure and collects revenue
  4. Acts as guardian of the treaties
  5. Represents EU on world stage (e.g. Trade)
  6. Bureaucracy of the European Union
European Council
1. The European Council is the institution of European Union that compromise:
  1. Heads of State or Government of the member states
  2. Presidents of the European Council
  3. President of the European Commission
2. Meeting place of heads of Government and foreign ministers
3. Established as an informal summit in 1975, the European Council was formalised as an institution in 2009 upon entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon.
4. Also attended by President of European Commission and European Council Political body.
5. Not legislative (was separated from Council of Ministers in Lisbon Treaty 2007)
6. Meets at least 4 times a year
7. Lisbon treaty created permanent post of president of the European Council selected by the Council for a renewable 2 1/2 year term
  1. Belgium PM Herman von Rompuy was first person to hold this post
  2. Mainly an administrative post (e.g. chairing meetings)
Council of the European Union
1. A part of the essentially bicameral EU legislative (the other legislative body being the European Parliament) and represents the excutive governments of the EU's memeber states.
2. It is based in Brussels but also meets in Luxembourg
3. Functions and Powers:
  1. Preparatory work done by national organisations headed by Permanent Representative.
  2. Hold meetings in the committee of Permanent Representatives (COPEPER)
  3. Team Presidency was created by the Lisbon Treaty = 3 states share Presidency for 18 months (UK 2017 with Estonia and Bulgaria)
  4. Part of EU legislative (shares with EU Parliament) but proposals must come from European Commission)
  5. Coordinates economic policies
  6. Takes key decisions on common and security policy
European Court of Justice
1. The highest court in the European Union in matters of European Union Law.
2. It is tasked with interpreting EU Law and ensuring its equal application across all EU member states
3. The Court was established in 1952 and is based in Luxembourg.
4. It is composed of one judge per member state - surrently 28 although it normally hears cases in panels of 3, 5,or 15 judges.
5. Functions and Powers:
  1. Uphholds EU Law
  2. Decides cases involving member states, EU institutions, businesses and individuals
  3. National courts can ask the court for a ruling on EU Law
  4. Decisions have had a major impact on role and strength of EU
  5. (Costa V ENEL (1964)) - Ruled that the community Law can not be overridden by national Law. (Cassis de Diron Case (1979)) - Paved the way for the singel European Market
European Central Bank
1. The European Central Bank is the Central bank for the Euro and administers monetary policy in the Eurozone, which consists of 19 EU member states.
2. It is one of the largest currency areas in the world
3. It is one of the world's most important central banks
4. The capital stock of the bank is owned by the central banks of all 28 EU member states.
5. The Treaty of Amsterdam established the bank in 1998 and it is based in Frankfurt, Germany.
European Court of Auditors
1. Established in 1975 in Luexmbourg to audit the accounts of EU institutions..
2. The Court is composed of one member from each EU member state, one of whom is chosen to be its president

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