Lecture 1 - Week 2
European Coal and Steel Community
EID
Who do I call if I want to call Europe?
President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen
High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Kaja Kallas
Security Policy
European Council President Antonio Costa
President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION
→ Promoting the common interest
Role: The EU’s executive branch, responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions,
and managing EU policies.
Composition: Led by a President and made up of Commissioners from each member state.
ROLES:
1. It proposes legislation to the Parliament and the Council
2. Manage and implements EU policies and budget
3. Enforce European Law (with the Court of Justice)
4. Represent the EU on the international stage
Commission president: the political leader of the Commission
★ Has permanent secretariat: Secretariat-General
★ Power to reject Commissioner nominees
★ Power to re-allocate portfolios & reshuffle
★ Primus supra pares (?)
EUROPEAN COUNCIL
→ EU's top decision-making body
Role: Sets the EU's overall political direction and priorities but does not pass laws.
,Composition: Consists of the heads of state or government from each EU country, the European
Council President, and the President of the European Commission.
★ Defines EU’s general political direction and priorities, no legislation (provides vision,
MS perspective)
★ Meets (at least) 4 times per year
★ Heads of state or government
President of the European Council Currently:
● Currently Antonio Costa
○ Former prime minister of Portugal
○ Social democrat
● Predecessors:
○ Charles Michel (BE)
○ Donald Tusk (PL)
○ Herman van Rompuy (BE)
The High Representative
● The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
● Visible international legal personality
- Blurs boundaries between Council + Commission
-Boosts EU as credible global actor
-High-level international legal personality diplomacy through European External
Action Service
● European Council appoints HR for 5-year term
● Currently: Kaja Kallas
○ Most vocal politician, more visible on the European scale
● Previously: Josep Borrel
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
→ The voice of the people
Role: The EU’s legislative body, representing EU citizens and sharing responsibility with the
Council of the European Union to pass EU laws and approve the budget.
Composition: Made up of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), directly elected by EU
citizens every five years.
Where is it?
- Strasbourg (plenary sessions)
- Luxemburg (secretary-general)
, - Brussels (plenary, committee sessions; most offices)
President of the European Parliament:
Roberta Mestola
➔ In office since 2022
➔ After death of Davide Sassoli
➔ Youngest president, third woman, first Maltese
➔ Member of EPP
➔ Controversial: ”pro life”
EP elections every five years
★ First elections in 1979
★ Last elections 2024
★ Regional or national lists
★ Proposal for transnational lists
★ Steady decrease in turnout until 2019
Power and influence in three key areas
1. EU Budget
2. Commission: Right to scrutinize, dismiss, and appoint
3. Law-making: Right to amend & reject Commission proposals
Examples of
Commissioners
being rejected
, Summary
★ No single person/institution to call
★ Institutions cooperate, but at times in competition
★ Power balance shifts
Details of European integration History can be confusing
1. Council of Europe
a. Stransburg
b. 46 MS
c. European human rights
2. Council of the European Union
a. Decision-making buddy of the EU
b. Established at the ECSC 1951-2
3. European Council
a. Antonio Costa → president
b. Meetings
c. Buddy of the head of government and heads of state
Why is the EU so complicated?
- Connected to the history of the EU
European integration process before 1939
Geopolitical power relations after 1945 - Cold War and connection of the European integration
process
European Coal and Steel Community
EID
Who do I call if I want to call Europe?
President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen
High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Kaja Kallas
Security Policy
European Council President Antonio Costa
President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION
→ Promoting the common interest
Role: The EU’s executive branch, responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions,
and managing EU policies.
Composition: Led by a President and made up of Commissioners from each member state.
ROLES:
1. It proposes legislation to the Parliament and the Council
2. Manage and implements EU policies and budget
3. Enforce European Law (with the Court of Justice)
4. Represent the EU on the international stage
Commission president: the political leader of the Commission
★ Has permanent secretariat: Secretariat-General
★ Power to reject Commissioner nominees
★ Power to re-allocate portfolios & reshuffle
★ Primus supra pares (?)
EUROPEAN COUNCIL
→ EU's top decision-making body
Role: Sets the EU's overall political direction and priorities but does not pass laws.
,Composition: Consists of the heads of state or government from each EU country, the European
Council President, and the President of the European Commission.
★ Defines EU’s general political direction and priorities, no legislation (provides vision,
MS perspective)
★ Meets (at least) 4 times per year
★ Heads of state or government
President of the European Council Currently:
● Currently Antonio Costa
○ Former prime minister of Portugal
○ Social democrat
● Predecessors:
○ Charles Michel (BE)
○ Donald Tusk (PL)
○ Herman van Rompuy (BE)
The High Representative
● The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
● Visible international legal personality
- Blurs boundaries between Council + Commission
-Boosts EU as credible global actor
-High-level international legal personality diplomacy through European External
Action Service
● European Council appoints HR for 5-year term
● Currently: Kaja Kallas
○ Most vocal politician, more visible on the European scale
● Previously: Josep Borrel
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
→ The voice of the people
Role: The EU’s legislative body, representing EU citizens and sharing responsibility with the
Council of the European Union to pass EU laws and approve the budget.
Composition: Made up of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), directly elected by EU
citizens every five years.
Where is it?
- Strasbourg (plenary sessions)
- Luxemburg (secretary-general)
, - Brussels (plenary, committee sessions; most offices)
President of the European Parliament:
Roberta Mestola
➔ In office since 2022
➔ After death of Davide Sassoli
➔ Youngest president, third woman, first Maltese
➔ Member of EPP
➔ Controversial: ”pro life”
EP elections every five years
★ First elections in 1979
★ Last elections 2024
★ Regional or national lists
★ Proposal for transnational lists
★ Steady decrease in turnout until 2019
Power and influence in three key areas
1. EU Budget
2. Commission: Right to scrutinize, dismiss, and appoint
3. Law-making: Right to amend & reject Commission proposals
Examples of
Commissioners
being rejected
, Summary
★ No single person/institution to call
★ Institutions cooperate, but at times in competition
★ Power balance shifts
Details of European integration History can be confusing
1. Council of Europe
a. Stransburg
b. 46 MS
c. European human rights
2. Council of the European Union
a. Decision-making buddy of the EU
b. Established at the ECSC 1951-2
3. European Council
a. Antonio Costa → president
b. Meetings
c. Buddy of the head of government and heads of state
Why is the EU so complicated?
- Connected to the history of the EU
European integration process before 1939
Geopolitical power relations after 1945 - Cold War and connection of the European integration
process
