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THE EUROPEAN UNION

THE EUROPEAN UNION. How does the structure of government within the EU compare with the structure of government in the United States?. The EU Institutions. European Council (Summit). Council of the EU. European Commission. European Parliament. Court of Justice. Court of Auditors.

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THE EUROPEAN UNION

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  1. THE EUROPEAN UNION How does the structure of government within the EU compare with the structure of government in the United States?

  2. The EU Institutions European Council (Summit) Council of the EU European Commission European Parliament Court of Justice Court of Auditors Committee of the Regions Economic and Social Committee European Investment Bank European Central Bank Agencies

  3. Three Key Players The European Commission Promoting the common interest

  4. European Commission • 28 Commissioners, each responsible for specific policy areas representing the common European perspective • Proposes new legislation and enforces laws • Manages Europe’s multilateral development cooperation European Commission President José Manuel Barroso

  5. The European Commission promoting the common interest • Manages and implements • EU policies and budget • Guardian of the treaties • Negotiates trade agreements • Represents the EU on the • international stage 28 independent members, one from each EU country

  6. Council of the European Union • EU’s main decision-making body, comprised of ministers of 28 Member States, representing each Member State’s point of view • Decides on foreign policy issues • Council presidency rotates among Member States every six months

  7. Council of the European Unionvoice of the member states • One minister from each EU country • Presidency: rotates every six months • Decides EU laws and budget together with Parliament • Manages the common foreign and security policy

  8. Council of the European Unionnumber of votes per country Germany, France, Italy and the United Kingdom 29 Spain and Poland 27 Romania 14 Netherlands 13 Belgium, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary and Portugal 12 Austria, Bulgaria and Sweden 10 Croatia, Denmark, Ireland, Lithuania, Slovakia and Finland 7 Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Luxembourg and Slovenia 4 Malta 3 Total: 352 “Qualified majority” needed for many decisions:260 votes and a majority of member states From 2014: 55% of the Member States with 65% of the population

  9. European Parliament • Voice of European citizens • Members elected for five-year terms • With the Council, passes EU laws and adopts EU budgets • Approves EU Commissioners

  10. The European Parliamentvoice of the people Decides EU laws and budget together with Council of Ministers Democratic supervision of all the EU’s work Number of members elected in each country (July 2013) 6 Estonia Italy 22 73 Portugal 19 Austria Romania Latvia 9 33 13 Belgium 22 Finland Lithuania 12 13 Slovakia 74 France Bulgaria 18 8 6 Luxembourg Slovenia 99 Germany 12 Croatia Malta 6 54 Spain 6 Cyprus Greece 22 Netherlands 20 Sweden 26 22 Hungary Czech Republic 22 72 United Kingdom 51 Poland Denmark 12 13 Ireland Total 766

  11. The European Political Parties Number of seats in the European Parliament per political group (July 2013) Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe 85 European People’s Party (Christian Democrats) 275 Greens/European Free Alliance 58 Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats 196 European Conservatives and Reformists 55 Europe of Freedom and Democracy 35 European United Left - Nordic Green Left 34 Total : 766 Non-attached members 28

  12. European Court of Justice • Highest EU judicial authority • Ensures all EU laws are interpreted and applied correctly and uniformly • Can act as an independent policy maker but unlike the U.S. Supreme Court, the ECJ can only deal with matters covered by the Treaties

  13. The European Court of Justice upholding the law • Rules on how to interpret EU law • Ensures EU countries apply EU laws in the same way 28 independent judges, one from each EU country

  14. How EU laws are made Citizens, interest groups, experts: discuss, consult Commission: makes formal proposal Parliament and Council of Ministers: decide jointly National or local authorities: implement Commission and Court of Justice: monitor implementation

  15. Summit of the European Council • heads of state and government of all EU countries • Heldat least 4 times a year • Sets the overall guidelines for EU policies • President: Herman Van Rompuy

  16. The European Central Bank managing the euro • Ensures price stability • Controls money supply and decides interest rates • Works independently from governments

  17. The European Court of Auditorsgetting value for your money • Checks that EU funds are • used properly • Can audit any person or • organization dealing with • EU funds 28 Independent members

  18. Civil servants working for the EU The Commission employs about 23,000 permanent civil servants and 11,000 temporary or contract workers Other EU institutions: about 10,000 employed EU administration costs €15 per EU citizen per year

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