Unit 25 Institutions of the European Union

1. Unit 25Institutionsofthe European Union Consultthepagehttp://europa.eu/about-eu/institutions-bodies/index_en.htm

2. Themain EU institutions Connect theEnglishandCrotiannamesofinstitutions. TheEuropeanParliament TheEuropeanCouncil TheEuropeanCommission TheCounciloftheEuropean Union (CouncilofMinisters) Europska komisija Europski parlament Europsko vijeće Vijeće Europske unije / Vijeće ministara

3. Other EU institutions Connect theEnglishandCrotiannamesofinstitutions. The Court ofJusticeoftheEuropean Union TheEuropean Court ofAuditors TheEconomicandSocialCommitte TheCommitteeofthe Regions European Central Bank TheEuropeanInvestment Bank EuropeanOmbudsman Sud pravde Europske unije Odbor regija Gospodarski i socijalni odbor Europska središnja banka Europska investicijska banka Europski pučki pravobranitelj Europski revizijski sud

4. TheEuropeanCouncil≠ theCouncilofthe EUtheCouncilof Europe!!!!!! • consists of heads of state who have been meeting twice a year (at the end of every presidency meeting) under the name, the European Council, since 1974 • they discuss informally EU policy, political strategies • can give a new impetus, when there is a deadlock at the level of the Council of the EU • the post of the President of the European Council after the LISABON treaty a) chairs the summit meetings b) represents the EU in external affairs

5. TheEuropeanParliament The main function – LEGISLATION, however shares the legislative function with the Council of the EU (codecision) - elected by universal suffrage since 1979 - 750 members Budgetary power – approves the budget of the EU and proposes amendments Decides on international agreements, enlargements (accession of new member states) Can cause the Commission to resign, checks the credentials of proposed candidates for positions within the Commission

6. TheCouncilofthe EU (theCouncilofMinisters) • composedofministersfrommemberstates, fromtherelevantgovernment department • Meetsin10 differentconfigurations(e.g. EcofinCouncil = subjectmatter – economyand financial issues) • Presidencywhichrotatesevery 6 months, • CommitteeofPermanentRepresentatives (COREPER), ambassadorsofeachmember state inBrussels, preparethemeetingsoftheCouncil, keeptheministersinformedofanypoliticalproblems, • IMPORTANT LEGISLATIVE FUNCTION (sharedwiththeParliament) – changesafterthe Lisabon treaty (whichcameintoforceDecember 2009)

7. The legislative power of the EuropeanParliamentincreases, as the codecision procedurewith the Council of the EU is extended to new areas of policy. This procedure is slightly modified and renamed Ordinary legislativeprocedure.

8. TheEuropeanCommission - often described as the Executive of the EU • consists of 28 Commissioners (one from each Member State, appointed by their national governments, however, they dont represent their states, but work under a principle of collective responsibility) • tasks: initiates laws, allocates EU funds, draws up the budget, controls expenditure, ensures proper application of EU law • the President of the Commission is chosen by the Heads of State of all of the member states and must be approved by the Parliament • has a huge staff (15.000 civil servents), different departments, different areas of policy: e.g. environment, single market, etc.

9. The Court ofJusticeoftheEuropean Union

10. Structureofthe CJEU CJEU Civil Service Tribunal - considers labor disputes raised by EU civil servants against EU institutions. Until 2016 General Court - complaints brought by individuals - 46 judges in office as of October 4, 2017 Court of Justice - appeals against General Courts’ judgments and references for a preliminary ruling

11. The Court ofJustice • thejudicialbranchofthe EU • ensuresthattreaties as wellaslawsanddecisionsmadethereunder are applied withintheInstitutionsandintheMemberStates • madeupof 28 Judgesand 11 Advocates General (hold office for a renewabletermof 6 years) -sits as a full court(case is of exceptional importance), in a Grand Chamber of 15 Judges (when a Member State or an institution which is a party to the proceedings so requests, and in particularly complex or important cases) or in Chambers of three or five Judges.

12. Thetasksofthe Court ofJustice • to ensuretheintegrationofthe EU lawintothe legal systems oftheMemberstates • to takepartindeveloping EU law • to decideaboutissuesconcerningthedivisionof power betweentheStatesandthe EU, • to decideincasesbetween EU institutionsandMemberStates • to decide on a wide ragneofissuesbetweenpartieswhichhavebeenreferredfrom a national court = reference for a preliminaryruling

13. TYPES OF CASES FIVE most common types of cases are: • requests for a preliminary ruling – when national courts ask the Court of Justice to interpret a point of EU law • actions for failure to fulfil an obligation – brought against EU governments for not applying EU law • actions for annulment – against EU laws thought to violate the EU treaties or fundamental rights • actions for failure to act – against EU institutions for failing to make decisions required of them • direct actions – brought by individuals, companies or organisations against EU decisions or actions

14. References for preliminary rulings • The Court of Justice cooperates with all the courts of the Member States • to ensure the effective and uniform application of EU legislation and • to prevent divergent interpretations, the national courts may, and sometimes must, refer to the Court of Justice and ask it to clarify a point concerning the interpretation of EU law so that they may ascertainwhether their national legislation complies with that law.

15. The Court of Justice’s reply is not merely an opinion, but takes the form of a judgment or reasoned order. The national court to which it is addressed is, in deciding the dispute before it, bound by the interpretation given. The Court of Justice’s judgment likewise binds other national courts before which the same problem is raised. • It is through references for preliminary rulings* that any European citizen can seek clarification of the Community rules which affect him. Such a reference can be made only by a national court. * = zahtjev za prethodnu odluku / mišljenje

16. General Court - 46 judges in office as of October 4, 2017, renewabletermof office ofsixyears;  does not have permanent Advocates General Cases before the General Court are heard by Chambers of five or three Judges or, in some cases, as a single Judge; a Grand Chamber (fifteen Judges) when this is justified by the legal complexity or importance of the case. • deals with cases brought forward by private individuals, companies and some organisations; actions brought by the MS against the Commission;disputes between the institutions of the European Union and their staff concerning employment relations and the social security system • The decisions of the General Court may, within two months, be subject to an appeal before the Court of Justice, limited to points of law.

17. TheEuropean Court ofAuditors • set upin 1975, basedin Luxembourg • it audits the revenue and expenditure of the European Union. • aims to contribute to improving the financial management of European Union funds, to ensure maximum value for money for all citizens of the Union.

18. Language work • Controlyourknowledgeand do theexercise IV, p. 255 2. Do thelanguage ex. V – VII, p. 257

19. Other EU institutions • Do theexercise VIII, p. 258 to findout more aboutother EU institutions

20. PART II • Study thoroughly the authentic text on Reference for prelimionary ruling and to the exercises based on the text