European Parliament Notes Summary PDF

**[Summary of European Union Notes]** **[Historical Framework]** **[EU Cooperation with the United Nations (UN)]** The European Union (EU) strongly supports multilateralism, with the UN at its core, to address global challenges effectively. The EU participates in the annual UN General Assembly (U...

**[Summary of European Union Notes]** **[Historical Framework]** **[EU Cooperation with the United Nations (UN)]** The European Union (EU) strongly supports multilateralism, with the UN at its core, to address global challenges effectively. The EU participates in the annual UN General Assembly (UNGA) and maintains delegations accredited to UN offices in Geneva, New York, Paris, Rome, and Vienna. The cooperation spans numerous areas, including human rights, sustainable development, climate change, peacebuilding, digital issues, disarmament, humanitarian aid, and global health. EU member states collectively contribute significant financial support to the UN. In 2022, the EU and its member states provided nearly one-third of all contributions to UN agencies, with €3 billion from the EU and €14.1 billion from member states. This makes the EU and its members the top donors to organizations such as the WHO, UNICEF, and UNDP. The EU's enhanced observer status at the UNGA allows it to participate in debates, submit proposals, and present unified positions, despite not having voting rights. EU-UN collaboration is guided by shared priorities like advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, promoting peace and security, addressing climate change, and ensuring global health. Both partners align their efforts in peace operations, crisis management, and protection of human rights. The EU's Strategic Compass of 2022 further enhances this partnership by fostering coherence between EU and UN missions. **[Overview of the European Union]** The European Union, founded on treaties that define its structure and functioning, is unique in its approach. It is not a single state or traditional organization but a union of sovereign member states pooling their sovereignty for collective strength. Central principles include subsidiarity, where decisions are retained by member states unless EU intervention is necessary, and European values like democracy, rule of law, and respect for human rights. The EU's institutional framework is distributed among seven main bodies, with four taking center stage: - The European Commission, the executive branch, proposes laws, enforces policies, and manages programs. It consists of Commissioners representing member states and employs over 32,000 civil servants. - The European Parliament, directly elected by citizens every five years, co-legislates with the Council of the EU and supervises the European Commission. Its powers have grown significantly over time, especially since the Lisbon Treaty. - The Council of the European Union, comprising ministers from member states, represents national interests and shares legislative powers with the Parliament. - The European Council, composed of heads of state or government, defines the EU's strategic agenda and nominates the European Commission President. EU policies are formulated through the ordinary legislative procedure, requiring agreement between the European Parliament and the Council of the EU. Decisions in the Council need either a 55% majority of member states or 65% of the EU population, while Parliament requires a simple majority. Strategic Priorities and Cooperation The EU\'s strategic agenda (2019--2024) focuses on protecting freedoms, developing a sustainable economic base, fostering a climate-neutral Europe, and promoting EU values globally. These priorities are reflected in initiatives like the European Green Deal and the EU's leadership in climate and environmental policies. EU-UN collaboration on humanitarian aid, peacekeeping, and crisis management ensures coordinated responses to global challenges. The EU remains a major donor in humanitarian efforts, especially in response to conflicts such as Russia's war in Ukraine and the consequences of climate change. Joint actions with NATO, especially under the EU-NATO Strategic Partnership, further enhance Euro-Atlantic security. This partnership focuses on areas like countering hybrid threats, cyber defense, and operational cooperation. Transparency and citizen involvement are crucial to EU governance. The EU's Transparency Register tracks lobbying activities, ensuring public access to information about interest representation. MEPs and other officials disclose meetings with lobbyists and publish declarations of interests, reinforcing accountability. **[Financial Framework and Future Direction]** The EU's budget is guided by the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), with the 2021--2027 MFF allocating resources to areas like digital transformation, environmental initiatives, and economic recovery. The EU's annual budgets align with these long-term priorities, ensuring funds are used effectively to meet collective goals. In summary, the EU\'s functioning reflects a balance of national sovereignty and supranational decision-making, supported by its robust institutional framework and commitment to multilateralism. Its partnership with the UN underscores its global role in fostering peace, sustainability, and shared values, while internal structures ensure the democratic engagement of its citizens in shaping policies and priorities. **[EU Treaties]** Treaty of Maastricht (1993): Established the European Union (EU) and laid foundations for economic, political, and security cooperation. Treaty of Lisbon (2009): Reformed the EU to improve efficiency, democracy, and influence. Key changes included: Expanded qualified majority voting. Creation of the President of the European Council and High Representative roles. Legal personality for the EU, enabling it to sign treaties. Binding legal status for the Charter of Fundamental Rights. Introduced Article 50, facilitating member states\' withdrawal (e.g., Brexit). **[Key EU Institutions and Their Roles]** **[European Council:]** Sets political direction and priorities; does not legislate. Composed of heads of state or government, its President, and the European Commission President. Current President: Charles Michel. **[European Commission:]** Proposes and enforces legislation, manages the EU budget. Represents the EU internationally. Includes 27 Commissioners, one from each member state. **[Council of the European Union:]** Represents member states\' governments. Shares legislative power with the European Parliament. Decisions often require a qualified majority vote. **[European Parliament (EP):]** Directly elected by EU citizens; consists of 720 MEPs. Shares legislative and budgetary powers with the Council. Monitors and supervises the European Commission. President: Roberta Metsola. **[Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU):]** Ensures uniform application of EU law. Composed of one judge from each member state. **[European Central Bank (ECB):]** Manages the euro and oversees monetary policy for the Eurozone. **[European Court of Auditors:]** Audits EU finances to ensure efficiency and proper use. **[Legislative and Decision-Making Processes]** Ordinary Legislative Procedure: Co-decision between the European Parliament and Council of the EU. Consultation Procedure: Parliament provides input, but the Council decides. Consent Procedure: Parliament approves certain decisions without amendments. **[Single Market and Eurozone]** Single Market: Allows free movement of goods, services, capital, and people. Issues include regulatory discrepancies and uneven economic benefits. Eurozone: Consists of 20 EU states using the euro. Benefits include currency stability, but challenges arise due to shared monetary policy and lack of a fiscal union. **[Role of the European Parliament]** **Legislative Powers:** Co-legislates with the Council under the ordinary legislative procedure. Debates and amends proposals initiated by the European Commission. **Budgetary Powers:** Shares control over the EU budget with the Council. **Supervisory Powers:** Approves or rejects the European Commission President and Commissioners. Can dismiss the Commission via a motion of no confidence. **[Membership and Elections]** MEPs are elected every five years via proportional representation systems determined by individual member states. Seats are allocated based on population, with smaller countries slightly overrepresented. Women comprise over one-third of MEPs, reflecting progress in gender equality. **[Challenges and Criticisms]** Democratic Deficit: Limited power compared to the Council of the EU. Fragmentation: Diverse political groups and ideologies hinder consensus. Policy Challenges: Addressing crises (e.g., COVID-19), climate change, and digital transformation. **[Governance and Integrity]** Code of Conduct: MEPs must act transparently and declare conflicts of interest, gifts, and financial support. Supervisory Bodies: Includes the Advisory Committee on the Conduct of Members, which ensures adherence to ethical standards. **[Enlargement and External Relations]** Accession Process: Candidate countries must meet Copenhagen Criteria (stable institutions, functional market economy, EU law compliance). Approval requires ratification by all member states. Challenges with Candidates: Issues such as Turkey's democratic deficits and ongoing negotiations with Balkan countries. International Summits: Includes bilateral and multilateral meetings with global partners and regional organizations. Impact of the Lisbon Treaty Enhanced democratic legitimacy by increasing the Parliament's legislative and budgetary powers. Introduced the Spitzenkandidaten system to align Commission Presidency with election outcomes. **[Summary of European Parliament Notes]** The European Parliament and its role in the EU are rooted in key historical milestones. The **Treaty of Maastricht (1993)** established the EU and created frameworks for economic, political, and security cooperation. Later, the **Treaty of Lisbon (2009)** reformed the EU, improving efficiency, democracy, and global influence. Key reforms included expanding qualified majority voting, creating roles like the President of the European Council and the High Representative for Foreign Affairs, granting the EU legal personality, and making the Charter of Fundamental Rights legally binding. The Treaty also introduced Article 50, which formalized the process for member states to leave the EU, as seen with Brexit. The EU\'s institutional framework is composed of several key bodies. The **European Council**, led by its President (currently Charles Michel), defines the EU\'s political direction but does not legislate. The **European Commission** acts as the EU\'s executive branch, proposing legislation and managing the budget. It comprises 27 Commissioners, including a President, and represents the EU internationally. The **Council of the European Union**, representing member states\' governments, shares legislative and budgetary powers with the European Parliament. The **European Parliament (EP)**, composed of 705 directly elected MEPs, shares legislative, budgetary, and supervisory powers. Other critical bodies include the **Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU)**, which ensures uniform application of EU law; the **European Central Bank (ECB)**, which manages the euro and monetary policy; and the **European Court of Auditors**, which ensures financial accountability. The EU\'s legislative process relies on three procedures: the **ordinary legislative procedure**, where the European Parliament and the Council co-legislate equally; the **consultation procedure**, where the Parliament provides input but the Council decides; and the **consent procedure**, where the Parliament approves certain decisions without amending them. These processes reflect the balance between EU citizens\' representation in Parliament and member states\' representation in the Council. The **Single Market** is a cornerstone of the EU, enabling free movement of goods, services, capital, and people. While it simplifies trade and strengthens economic ties, challenges arise from differing national regulations and uneven benefits between richer and poorer member states. The **Eurozone**, comprising 20 EU states using the euro, eliminates currency exchange risks but faces challenges like shared monetary policy and the absence of a fiscal union. This has led to issues such as the Eurozone debt crisis, where countries like Greece required bailouts amid debates over strict financial rules. The **European Parliament** plays a crucial role in shaping EU policies. Its legislative powers include co-legislating with the Council, debating, and amending proposals from the Commission. It also holds significant budgetary power, sharing control over the EU budget with the Council. The Parliament supervises the European Commission, approving or rejecting the appointment of the Commission President and individual Commissioners. It can dismiss the Commission through a motion of no confidence and investigates EU institutions to ensure transparency and accountability. MEPs are elected every five years via proportional representation systems tailored by individual member states. Seats are allocated based on population, with smaller countries slightly overrepresented. Over one-third of MEPs are women, reflecting progress in gender equality. Despite these achievements, the Parliament faces criticism for its limited power compared to the Council, low voter turnout, and difficulties in consensus-building due to diverse political ideologies. The Parliament emphasizes integrity and transparency through its **Code of Conduct**, requiring MEPs to declare conflicts of interest, gifts, and financial support. Supervisory bodies, like the Advisory Committee on the Conduct of Members, ensure compliance and impose penalties for breaches. This commitment to governance reflects the EU's broader values of accountability and inclusivity. EU enlargement is guided by the **Copenhagen Criteria**, which require stable institutions, a functional market economy, and compliance with EU laws. The accession process involves evaluations by the European Commission, decisions by the European Council, and final approval by the Parliament and all member states. Challenges persist with candidate countries like Turkey, which struggles to meet EU democratic standards, and Balkan countries, which are progressing but face hurdles. The **Treaty of Lisbon** significantly empowered the European Parliament, making it an equal co-legislator with the Council in most policy areas and giving it control over the entire EU budget. The Spitzenkandidaten system further linked the Commission Presidency to European election outcomes, enhancing democratic legitimacy. Additionally, the Parliament has strengthened its role in international agreements, foreign policy, and trade oversight. The EU also addresses global challenges through summits with third countries, multilateral organizations, and regional partners. These meetings cover diverse topics, from trade and sustainable development to foreign policy and security. Internally, the European Parliament fosters cooperation with national parliaments, emphasizing subsidiarity and accountability. Tools like the IPEX platform and COSAC meetings facilitate information exchange and collaboration across member states. In summary, the European Parliament embodies the EU\'s commitment to democracy, inclusivity, and shared governance. While it faces challenges such as fragmentation and criticism over a \"democratic deficit,\" its legislative, supervisory, and budgetary powers position it as a vital institution in shaping EU policies and upholding citizens\' interests. Its evolution and reforms, especially under the Treaty of Lisbon, highlight the ongoing process of European integration and the balance between national sovereignty and collective decision-making.