Institutions of EU lectures
Week 1 ‘Introduction’
EU decision-making process involves four main institutions:
- European Council (Brussels); General political direction. Executive branch. Has a
president who is elected for 2 ½ years, does not adopt laws. It can amend treaties. The
head of governments of member states come together in the Council.
- European Commission (Brussels); Proposes legislation. Represents the interests of
the EU. Executive branch. Right of initiatives/proposals for EU laws or amendment.
Manages the EU policies (foreign/security policy). Manages EU budget. Ensures
member states comply with EU law/treaties. Infringement procedure (mechanism
against a member state whenever it breaches its obligations under EU law; otherwise
Court of Justice).
- European Parliament (Brussels, Strasbourg, Luxembourg); Legislative branch.
Adopts the law with The Council. Interests of the citizens of EU. Approves/adopt the
budget.
- The Council (Brussels/Luxembourg); Council of Ministers, legislative branch. Same
as Dutch 1e kamer. National ministers get together with parliament to decide on EU
legislation, to coordinate policies, and approve budget.
TFEU = Treaty of the function of the European Union.
Further institutions:
- Court of Justice; Luxembourg, judge for every member state. Judicial branch of EU.
Ensures that EU law is followed, and treaties are applied.
- European Central Bank; keep the prices stable, and regulate the monetary and
exchange rate policy.
- Court of Auditors; independent guardian of the financial interest of Eu citizens.
Checks the EU funds and whether they are spending in accordance.
Further bodies:
- High Representative; diplomatic service of EU. Kind of minister of foreign affairs.
- Economic and Social Committee; represents civil society stakeholders, such as
workers unions and economic/cultural organizations. Consulted by the Commission,
Parliament, and Council of Ministers.
- Committee of the Regions; represents regional and local authorities. Consulted by the
Commission, Parliament, and Council of Ministers.
- European Investment Bank; lending arm. Focuses on sustainability, climate,
innovation.
There are also ‘offices’. Chart of fundamental rights apply to institutions, bodies, offices, and
agencies.
, Primary law = Treaties and charters. European Council.
- Treaty on Functioning of the EU (TFEU); organises the functioning of the Union
and determines the areas of, delimitation of, and arrangement for exercising its
competences.
Was developed from the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC).
Which in turn was based on the Treaty establishing the European Economic
Community (TEEC).
- Treaty of European Union (TEU); marks a new stage in the process of creating an
ever closer union among the peoples of Europe. Principles: promote peace.
- Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU (Charter, CFR, EUCFR).
Secondary law = Commission makes proposal, scrutinised by Parliament and The Council.
To exercise the Union’s competences, the institutions shall adopt:
- A regulation shall have general application. It shall be binding in its entity and directly
applicable in all member states.
- A directive shall be binding, as to the result to be achieved, upon each member State
to which it is addressed, but shall leave to the national authorities the choice of form
and methods.
- A decision shall be binding in its entirety.
European Council vs. Council of Europe:
1) European Union
- 27 member states.
- European Council = an institution of the EU.
- Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU)
Luxembourg.
27 judges (one judge per member state).
interprets EU law.
2) Council of Europe (separate international organization)
- 47 member states (Without Russia 46 now).
- Established 1949.
- The aim is to achieve a greater unity between its members for the purpose of
safeguarding and realising the ideals and principles which are their common heritage
and facilitating their economic and social progress.
- All member states of the EU are also member states of the Council of Europe.
- Important instrument: European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) (1950): right
to life, prohibition of torture, right to a fair trial, right to respect for private and family
life, freedom of expression.
- European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR)
Strasbourg.
47 judges.
Institution of the Council of Europe.
Week 1 ‘Introduction’
EU decision-making process involves four main institutions:
- European Council (Brussels); General political direction. Executive branch. Has a
president who is elected for 2 ½ years, does not adopt laws. It can amend treaties. The
head of governments of member states come together in the Council.
- European Commission (Brussels); Proposes legislation. Represents the interests of
the EU. Executive branch. Right of initiatives/proposals for EU laws or amendment.
Manages the EU policies (foreign/security policy). Manages EU budget. Ensures
member states comply with EU law/treaties. Infringement procedure (mechanism
against a member state whenever it breaches its obligations under EU law; otherwise
Court of Justice).
- European Parliament (Brussels, Strasbourg, Luxembourg); Legislative branch.
Adopts the law with The Council. Interests of the citizens of EU. Approves/adopt the
budget.
- The Council (Brussels/Luxembourg); Council of Ministers, legislative branch. Same
as Dutch 1e kamer. National ministers get together with parliament to decide on EU
legislation, to coordinate policies, and approve budget.
TFEU = Treaty of the function of the European Union.
Further institutions:
- Court of Justice; Luxembourg, judge for every member state. Judicial branch of EU.
Ensures that EU law is followed, and treaties are applied.
- European Central Bank; keep the prices stable, and regulate the monetary and
exchange rate policy.
- Court of Auditors; independent guardian of the financial interest of Eu citizens.
Checks the EU funds and whether they are spending in accordance.
Further bodies:
- High Representative; diplomatic service of EU. Kind of minister of foreign affairs.
- Economic and Social Committee; represents civil society stakeholders, such as
workers unions and economic/cultural organizations. Consulted by the Commission,
Parliament, and Council of Ministers.
- Committee of the Regions; represents regional and local authorities. Consulted by the
Commission, Parliament, and Council of Ministers.
- European Investment Bank; lending arm. Focuses on sustainability, climate,
innovation.
There are also ‘offices’. Chart of fundamental rights apply to institutions, bodies, offices, and
agencies.
, Primary law = Treaties and charters. European Council.
- Treaty on Functioning of the EU (TFEU); organises the functioning of the Union
and determines the areas of, delimitation of, and arrangement for exercising its
competences.
Was developed from the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC).
Which in turn was based on the Treaty establishing the European Economic
Community (TEEC).
- Treaty of European Union (TEU); marks a new stage in the process of creating an
ever closer union among the peoples of Europe. Principles: promote peace.
- Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU (Charter, CFR, EUCFR).
Secondary law = Commission makes proposal, scrutinised by Parliament and The Council.
To exercise the Union’s competences, the institutions shall adopt:
- A regulation shall have general application. It shall be binding in its entity and directly
applicable in all member states.
- A directive shall be binding, as to the result to be achieved, upon each member State
to which it is addressed, but shall leave to the national authorities the choice of form
and methods.
- A decision shall be binding in its entirety.
European Council vs. Council of Europe:
1) European Union
- 27 member states.
- European Council = an institution of the EU.
- Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU)
Luxembourg.
27 judges (one judge per member state).
interprets EU law.
2) Council of Europe (separate international organization)
- 47 member states (Without Russia 46 now).
- Established 1949.
- The aim is to achieve a greater unity between its members for the purpose of
safeguarding and realising the ideals and principles which are their common heritage
and facilitating their economic and social progress.
- All member states of the EU are also member states of the Council of Europe.
- Important instrument: European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) (1950): right
to life, prohibition of torture, right to a fair trial, right to respect for private and family
life, freedom of expression.
- European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR)
Strasbourg.
47 judges.
Institution of the Council of Europe.
