10 Questions
The Council of the EU is the main legislative body of the European Union.
False
The ordinary legislative procedure is the primary method for adopting legislation in the European Union.
True
The principle of subsidiarity states that decisions should be made at the most local level possible.
True
The European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) was a precursor to the European Union.
True
The European Parliament is the only institution involved in the European Union's budgetary process.
False
The European Commission is the main executive body of the European Union.
True
The European Commission adopts legislation without the involvement of the European Parliament or the Council of the EU.
False
The Council of the EU is composed of representatives from national governments.
True
The principle of subsidiarity applies only to the decision-making process in the European Union.
False
The European Parliament has equal legislative power with the Council of the EU in the ordinary legislative procedure.
True
Study Notes
The European Commission
- Proposes legislation and ensures EU policies are properly implemented
- Represents the interests of the EU as a whole
- Decisions are made based on the collective responsibility of the College of Commissioners
The European Council
- Brings together EU leaders to discuss new laws and set the EU's political agenda
- Consists of the Heads of State or Government of the EU member states
- Does not adopt legislative proposals or pass laws
- Puts forward proposals for legislation
The European Court of Auditors
- Is the independent external audit institution of the European Union
The European Court of Justice
- Can annul the latter's legal rights if it acts outside its powers
The European Parliament
- Is directly elected by the EU's citizens
- Adopts new laws with the Council (also called the Council of the European Union)
- Certain topics like foreign policy and taxation require a unanimous vote
The European Union
- Contains 27 member states (excluding the United Kingdom)
- Is not a federation
- Has a "Fiscal Compact" that obliges participating countries to enshrine rules on a balanced budget into national law
- Has a long-term spending plan (multiannual financial framework) that provides a stable basis for implementing the budget over a period of at least 5 years
- Has an anthem that is not superior to national anthems of member states
- EU member state citizens have national citizenship, but not European citizenship
The Euro
- Is in circulation since 2002
- Is used by 18 EU countries (euro area)
Other
- Green Papers are Commission documents to stimulate discussion on given topics at European level
- The EU's annual budget is decided jointly by the European Parliament and the Council
- The EU's competition policy is implemented by the European Commission and the Court of Justice
Test your knowledge about the roles and responsibilities of key European Union institutions such as the European Commission and the European Council. Identify true or false statements about the functions of these institutions.
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