CULTURAL INTEGRATION

EU institutions and other bodies

University of Agronomic Science and Veterinary

Medicine-Bucharest
Faculty of Management, Economic Engineering in Agriculture
and Rural Development
Specialisation:
Engineering and Management in Public Catering and
Agritourism

Stan George Ctlin

Group 8113

EU institutions and other bodies

In the EU's unique institutional set-up:
the EU's broad priorities are set by the European Council,
which brings together national and EU-level leaders
directly elected MEPs represent European citizens in the
European Parliament
the interests of the EU as a whole are promoted by the
European Commission, whose members are appointed by national
governments
governments defend their own countries' national interests in
the Council of the European Union.

Setting the agenda

The European Council sets the EU's overall political direction but
has no powers to pass laws. Led by its President currently Herman Van
Rompuy and comprising national heads of state or government and the
President of the Commission, it meets for a few days at a time at least
every 6 months.
Law-making
There are 3 main institutions involved in EU legislation:
the

European Parliament, which represents the EUs citizens

and is directly elected by them;
the Council of the European Union, which represents the
governments of the individual member countries. The Presidency of
the Council is shared by the member states on a rotating basis.
the European Commission, which represents the interests of
the Union as a whole.
Together, these three institutions produce through the "Ordinary
Legislative Procedure" (ex "co-decision") the policies and laws that apply
throughout the EU. In principle, the Commission proposes new laws, and
the Parliament and Council adopt them. The Commission and the member
countries then implement them, and the Commission ensures that the
laws are properly applied and implemented.

Other EU institutions
Two other institutions play vital roles:
the
the

Court of Justice upholds the rule of European law

Court of Auditors checks the financing of the EU's

activities.
The powers and responsibilities of all of these institutions are laid
down in the Treaties, which are the foundation of everything the EU does.
They also lay down the rules and procedures that the EU institutions must
follow. The Treaties are agreed by the presidents and/or prime ministers
of all the EU countries, and ratified by their parliaments.
The EU has a number of other institutions and interinstitutional
bodies that play specialised roles:
the

European Economic and Social Committee represents civil

society, employers and employees
the Committee of the Regions represents regional and local
authorities
the European Investment Bank finances EU investment
projects and helps small businesses through the European
Investment Fund
the European Central Bank is responsible for European
monetary policy
the European Ombudsman investigates complaints about
maladministration by EU institutions and bodies
the European Data Protection Supervisor safeguards the
privacy of peoples personal data
the Publications Office publishes information about the EU
the European Personnel Selection Office recruits staff for the
EU institutions and other bodies
the European Administrative School provides training in
specific areas for members of EU staff
a host of specialised agencies and decentralised bodies handle
a range of technical, scientific and management tasks
the European External Action Service (EEAS) assists the High
Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,
currently Catherine Ashton. She chairs the Foreign Affairs Council
and conducts the common foreign and security policy, also ensuring
the consistency and coordination of the EU's external action.

European Parliament

Directly elected by EU voters

every 5 years, members of the
European Parliament (MEPs)
represent the people. Parliament is
one of the EUs main law-making
institutions, along with the Council
of the European Union ('the
Council').

The European Parliament has three main roles:

debating and passing European laws, with the Council
scrutinising other EU institutions, particularly the Commission,

to make sure they are working democratically

debating and adopting the EU's budget, with the Council.
Passing European laws

In many areas, such as consumer protection and the environment,

Parliament works together with the Council (representing national
governments) to decide on the content of EU laws and officially adopt
them. This process is called "Ordinary legislative procedure" (ex "codecision").

Under the Lisbon Treaty, the range of policies covered by the new
ordinary legislative procedure has increased, giving Parliament more
power to influence the content of laws in areas including agriculture,
energy policy, immigration and EU funds.
Parliament must also give its permission for other important
decisions, such as allowing new countries to join the EU.
Democratic supervision
Parliament exercises influence over other European institutions in
several ways.
When a new Commission is appointed, its 27 members one from
each EU country cannot take up office until Parliament has approved
them. If the Members of the European Parliament disapprove of a
nominee, they can reject the entire slate.
Parliament can also call on the Commission to resign during its period
in office. This is called a 'motion of censure'.
Parliament keeps check on the Commission by examining reports it
produces and by questioning Commissioners. Its committees play an
important part here.
MEPs look at petitions from citizens and sets up committees of
inquiry.
When national leaders meet for European Council summits,
Parliament gives its opinion on the topics on the agenda.
Supervising the budget
Parliament adopts the EUs annual budget with the Council of the
European Union.
Parliament has a committee that monitors how the budget is spent,
and every year passes judgement on the Commission's handling of the
previous year's budget.
Composition
The number of MEPs for each country is roughly in proportion to its
population. Under the Lisbon Treaty no country can have fewer than 6 or
more than 96 MEPs.
The current numbers in the Parliament were set, however, before the
coming into force of the treaty. The numbers will be adjusted for the next
5

mandate of the European Parliament. For example, the number of MEPs

for Germany will thus be reduced from 99 to 96, whilst for Malta this
number will increase from 5 to 6.
MEPs are grouped by political affiliation, not by nationality.
Location
The European Parliament has three places of work Brussels
(Belgium), Luxembourg and Strasbourg (France).
Luxembourg is home to the administrative offices (the General
Secretariat).
Meetings of the whole Parliament (plenary sessions) take place in
Strasbourg and in Brussels. Committee meetings are also held in Brussels.

Bibliography
http://www.europa.eu/
http://wikipedia.org/
http://europeana.ro/

Table of Contents
EU institutions and other bodies................................................................................. 2
Setting the agenda .................................................................................................................................. 2
Law-making ............................................................................................................................................... 2
Other EU institutions .............................................................................................................................. 3

European Parliament .................................................................................................... 4

Passing European laws .......................................................................................................................... 4
Democratic supervision ......................................................................................................................... 5
Supervising the budget ......................................................................................................................... 5
Composition ............................................................................................................................................... 5
Location ....................................................................................................................................................... 6

Bibliography ................................................................................................................... 7