Decision-making in the
European Union
European Parliament
Elected every five years by direct universal suffrage, the
European Parliament is the expression of the democratic will of the Union's 374
million citizens. Brought together within pan-European political groups, the
major political parties operating in the Member States are represented.
Parliament has three essential functions:
- It shares with the Council the power to legislate, i.e. to
adopt European laws (directives, regulations, decisions). Its involvement in
the legislative process helps to guarantee the democratic legitimacy of the
texts adopted;
- It shares budgetary authority with the Council, and can
therefore influence EU spending. At the end of the procedure, it adopts the
budget in its entirety;
- It exercises democratic supervision over the Commission. It
approves the nomination of Commissioners and has the right to censure the
Commission. It also exercises political supervision over all the
institutions.
For further details:
Council of the European Union
The Council is the EU's main decision-making body. It is the
embodiment of the Member States, whose representatives it brings together
regularly at ministerial level.
According to the matters on the agenda, the Council meets in
different compositions: foreign affairs, finance, education,
telecommunications, etc.
The Council has a number of key responsibilities:
- It is the Union's legislative body; for a wide range of EU
issues, it exercises that legislative power in co-decision with the European
Parliament;
- It coordinates the broad economic policies of the Member
States;
- It concludes, on behalf of the EU, international agreements
with one or more States or international organisations;
- It shares budgetary authority with Parliament;
- It takes the decisions necessary for framing and implementing
the common foreign and security policy, on the basis of general guidelines
established by the European Council;
- It coordinates the activities of Member States and adopts
measures in the field of police and judicial cooperation in criminal
matters.
For further details:
European Commission
The European Commission embodies and upholds the general interest
of the Union. The President and Members of the Commission are appointed by the
Member States after they have been approved by the European Parliament.
The Commission is the driving force in the Union's institutional
system:
- It has the right to initiate draft legislation and therefore
presents legislative proposals to Parliament and the Council;
- As the Union's executive body, it is responsible for
implementing the European legislation (directives, regulations, decisions),
budget and programmes adopted by Parliament and the Council;
- It acts as guardian of the Treaties and, together with the
Court of Justice, ensures that Community law is properly applied;
- It represents the Union on the international stage and
negotiates international agreements, chiefly in the field of trade and
cooperation.
For further details:
Court of Justice
The Court of Justice ensures that Community law is uniformly
interpreted and effectively applied. It has jurisdiction in disputes involving
Member States, EU institutions, businesses and individuals. A Court of First
Instance has been attached to it since 1989.
For further details:
Court of Auditors
The Court of Auditors checks that all the Union's revenue has
been received and all its expenditure incurred in a lawful and regular manner
and that financial management of the EU budget has been sound.
For further details:
European Central Bank
The European Central Bank frames and implements European monetary
policy; it conducts foreign exchange operations and ensures the smooth
operation of payment systems.
For further details:
European Economic and Social Committee
The European Economic and Social Committee represents the views
and interests of organised civil society vis-à-vis the Commission, the
Council and the European Parliament. The Committee has to be consulted on
matters relating to economic and social policy; it may also issue opinions on
its own initiative on other matters which it considers to be important.
For further details:
Committee of the Regions
The Committee of the Regions ensures that regional and local
identities and prerogatives are respected. It has to be consulted on matters
concerning regional policy, the environment and education. It is composed of
representatives of regional and local authorities.
For further details:
European Investment Bank
The European Investment Bank (EIB) is the European Union's
financial institution. It finances investment projects which contribute to the
balanced development of the Union.
For further details:
European Ombudsman
All individuals or entities (institutions or businesses) resident
in the Union can apply to the European Ombudsman if they consider that they
have been harmed by an act of "maladministration" by an EU institution or
body.
For further details:
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