EU Institutions: European Parliament and Council

EU Institutions

The European Parliament

• Directly elected by EU citizens every 5 years
• 751 members (MEPs) from 27 member states
• Seats allocated based on population size
• Main powers:
  • Legislative power (co-decision with Council)
  • Budgetary power (approves EU budget)
  • Supervisory power (holds Commission accountable)

The European Council

• Comprises heads of state or government from 27 member states
• Meets at least twice a year
• Sets EU's overall direction and priorities
• Key decisions:
  • Appoints European Commission President
  • Adopts EU's multiannual budget
  • Approves major policy changes

The European Commission

• Executive body of the EU
• 27 commissioners, one from each member state
• Responsible for:
  • Proposing new EU laws and policies
  • Enforcing EU laws and treaties
  • Managing EU's budget and programs
  • Representing EU in international organizations

The Council of the European Union

• Comprises ministers from 27 member states
• Meets in different configurations (e.g., agriculture, justice)
• Key powers:
  • Legislative power (co-decision with Parliament)
  • Approves EU's budget and policies
  • Coordinates member states' policies

The European Court of Justice

• Ensures EU law is interpreted and applied correctly
• Comprises one judge from each member state
• Key powers:
  • Interprets EU treaties and laws
  • Ensures member states comply with EU law
  • Resolves disputes between EU institutions and member states

The European Central Bank

• Responsible for EU's monetary policy
• Maintains price stability and supervises financial institutions
• Comprises governors from national central banks
• Key powers:
  • Sets interest rates and monetary policy
  • Oversees eurozone's financial stability

The Court of Auditors

• Ensures EU's budget is spent correctly and efficiently
• Comprises one member from each member state
• Key powers:
  • Audits EU's budget and financial transactions
  • Reports on EU's financial management and accountability

EU Institutions

The European Parliament

• 751 members (MEPs) directly elected by EU citizens every 5 years from 27 member states
• Seats allocated based on population size
• Exercises legislative power through co-decision with the Council
• Approves EU budget and exercises supervisory power over the Commission

The European Council

• Comprises heads of state or government from 27 member states
• Meets at least twice a year to set EU's overall direction and priorities
• Appoints European Commission President and adopts EU's multiannual budget
• Approves major policy changes and key international agreements

The European Commission

• Executive body of the EU with 27 commissioners, one from each member state
• Proposes new EU laws and policies and enforces EU laws and treaties
• Manages EU's budget and programs and represents EU in international organizations

The Council of the European Union

• Comprises ministers from 27 member states, meeting in different configurations
• Exercises legislative power through co-decision with the European Parliament
• Approves EU's budget and policies and coordinates member states' policies

The European Court of Justice

• Ensures EU law is interpreted and applied correctly with one judge from each member state
• Interprets EU treaties and laws and ensures member states comply with EU law
• Resolves disputes between EU institutions and member states

The European Central Bank

• Responsible for EU's monetary policy, maintaining price stability and supervising financial institutions
• Comprises governors from national central banks, setting interest rates and monetary policy
• Oversees eurozone's financial stability and supervises banks

The Court of Auditors

• Ensures EU's budget is spent correctly and efficiently with one member from each member state
• Audits EU's budget and financial transactions, reporting on financial management and accountability

European Institutions

European Commission

• Executive body of the EU, responsible for proposing legislation and policies
• Comprises 27 commissioners, one from each member state, headed by a President (currently Ursula von der Leyen)
• Proposes laws and policies, enforces EU laws and treaties, and manages EU budget and funding programs
• Represents the EU internationally

European Parliament

• Directly elected parliamentary institution of the EU, comprising 751 members (MEPs) from 27 member states
• Legislates jointly with the Council of the European Union, approves the EU budget, and holds the European Commission accountable
• Elects the President of the European Commission

Council of the European Union

• Also known as the Council of Ministers, comprising ministers from the 27 member states
• Legislates jointly with the European Parliament, coordinates policies among member states, and adopts laws and policies
• Represents the EU internationally

European Council

• Supreme political leadership of the EU, comprising the heads of state or government of the 27 member states
• Sets the EU's overall direction and priorities, makes key decisions on EU policies and laws, and elects the President of the European Council
• Meets at least twice a year

Court of Justice of the European Union

• Highest court in the EU, comprising 27 judges, one from each member state
• Interprets EU law and treaties, ensures uniform application of EU law, and settles disputes between EU institutions and member states
• Reviews the legality of EU acts

Euroscepticism

• Opposition to the EU and its policies, especially in the UK, driven by concerns over sovereignty, national identity, economy, and EU bureaucracy
• Concerns include the cost of membership, impact on trade, and dissatisfaction with EU decision-making processes
• Examples of Eurosceptic parties and movements include UK Independence Party (UKIP) in the UK, National Rally (formerly National Front) in France, and Alternative for Germany (AfD) in Germany

Single Market

• Unified market allowing free movement of goods, services, capital, and people within the EU
• Key features include removal of trade barriers, standardized laws, and free movement of workers, goods, and services
• Benefits of the Single Market include increased competition, economic growth, improved consumer choice, lower prices, and simplified regulations for businesses

Monetary Union

• Monetary union where member states share a single currency, the Euro, with a single monetary policy set by the European Central Bank (ECB)
• Key features include fixed exchange rates, coordination of economic policies, and a single monetary policy
• Benefits of the Monetary Union include reduced transaction costs, increased economic integration, and simplified travel and trade among member states
• Challenges include loss of national control over monetary policy and risk of asymmetric shocks among member states

Schengen Area

• Border-free zone within the EU where citizens can move freely without passport controls
• Key features include abolition of internal border controls, common visa policy, and cooperation on law enforcement and border security
• Benefits of the Schengen Area include increased mobility and freedom of movement for citizens, simplified travel, and economic benefits from tourism and trade
• Challenges include concerns over security and migration, and strains on social services and infrastructure in host countries

European Institutions

European Commission

• Executive body of the European Union, proposing and implementing EU policies and laws
• Comprises 27 Commissioners, one from each EU member state, led by the President (currently Ursula von der Leyen)
• Has the power to propose new laws, enforce existing laws, and manage the EU's budget

European Parliament

• Directly elected legislative body, composed of 751 MEPs representing EU citizens
• MEPs elected by proportional representation for a five-year term
• Has the power to amend and approve EU laws, exercising democratic oversight of the European Commission
• Meets in Strasbourg, France, and Brussels, Belgium

Council of the European Union

• Main decision-making body of the European Union
• Composed of government ministers from each EU member state, depending on the policy area
• Has the power to adopt EU laws, either jointly with the European Parliament or on its own in certain areas
• Often referred to as the "Council of Ministers"
• Meets in Brussels, Belgium

European Council

• Highest-level political body of the European Union
• Comprises heads of state or government of each EU member state, the President of the European Council, and the President of the European Commission
• Sets the overall direction and priorities of the EU
• Meets at least twice a year, usually in Brussels, Belgium
• Often referred to as the "EU summit"

Court of Justice of the European Union

• Highest court in the EU, responsible for interpreting EU law and ensuring its uniform application
• Composed of the Court of Justice and the General Court
• Has the power to hear cases involving EU law, including disputes between EU member states and the European Commission
• Based in Luxembourg