The European Union Institutions PDF

# The European Union ## The Executive Arm: The European Commission - **27 members** - **5 year term** - **Approved by EP** - **6 Executive Vice President** (EU's key areas) - **High Representative (EU's foreign and security policy)** - **Secretariat General** - **Cabinets** - **Directorates...

# The European Union ## The Executive Arm: The European Commission - **27 members** - **5 year term** - **Approved by EP** - **6 Executive Vice President** (EU's key areas) - **High Representative (EU's foreign and security policy)** - **Secretariat General** - **Cabinets** - **Directorates General** - **Services and Agencies** **President:** - **Ursula von Legen (2019-2024)** - **Gets proposed by European Council** - **Approved by EP** - **Can become president by Spitzenkandidaten procedure** **How do they make decisions?** - **College of Commissioners decide collectively, focus on consensus** - **If not reached, they use a simple majority vote** - **All Commissioners must support the final decision, regardless how they voted** - **Creates a united front** - **Creates EU foreign policy** **Tasks + Powers** - **Setting political agenda for European Commission** - **Representing EU** - **Managing college of Commissioners** - **Negotiation within EU** ## The Legislative Powers ### The Council of the Ministers/EU - **Voting mechanism** - **55% of member states need agree** - **65% & EU population** - **Blocking minority** (4 member states representing more than 35% of the EU population) - **Unanimity for sensitive topics** (foreign policy and taxation) - **Tasks + powers** - **Negotiates + adopts EU Laws** (depending on procedure, with EP) - **Coordinates EU countries’ policies** - **Develops & implements EU’s common foreign & security policy, based on European Security Policy Council guidelines** - **Concludes international agreements** - **Approves EU's budget** - **Manages many member states’ budgetary policy** - **President:** - **Hungary** - **Every 6 months, a new member state takes over** - **Works in trios, allowing for coordinated efforts over 18 months** - **Belgium, Hungary, Poland** - **What they do:** - **Setting agenda for meetings** - **Representing council of EU + its events** - **Chairs meetings of ministers on each specific policy issues** - **The Council of EU reflects governmental principles, but functions within a broader Supranational framework, highlighting the complexity and durable nature of EU's governance structure** ## The European Council - **27 heads of state/government** - **President of European Commission** - **High representative, foreign affairs and security policies ( Josep Borrell)** - **25 years term, 1 re-election** - **President: Charles Michel (2019-2024)** - **Elected by the Council by qualified majority vote** - **To block a decision, 35% of total population (at least 4 member states) must represent 55% of 27 heads of state** - **Using mostly consensual decisions, they do not make decisions until almost all (nearly all) members agree** - **This approach supports long-term unity and effectiveness of EU** - **The European Council is the most powerful institution in EU** - **Makes long-term decisions, focuses on the big picture** - **They need to agree on certain issues first, and then they can implement EU policy** ## The EP - **Mostly Intergovernmental** - **Driven by its leaders of member states, acting primarily in the interest of their own countries** - **They can act independently in the interest of the entire Union** - **This system gives effectiveness and consistency of EU policy across a wide range of areas** ## What is the QMV? **QMV (qualitied majority vote)** - **Minimum: 55% (15/27)** - **At least 65% of EU population**