Course 1 The European Union S Institutional Framework

The European Unionˈs Institutional Framework
1. Read the following text.
The European Parliament

President of the European Parliament
The president is elected for a period of two and a half years. The President represents the
Parliament in external relations and with the other EU institutions. The President supervises the
work of the Parliament and plenary debates and makes sure that the Rules of Procedure are
respected.
MPs in the Parliament European
The European Parliament is made up of 705 Members elected in the 27 Member States of the
enlarged European Union. Since 1979, deputies are elected by direct universal suffrage for a
period of five years. Seats in Parliament are allocated according to the population of each state.
Members are grouped based on political affinities and not nationality.
Political groups in the European Parliament
Members form political groups. At present, there are 7 political groups in the European
Parliament.
Political groups:
Group of the European People 's Party (Christian Democrats)
Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament
Renew Europe
Group of the Greens / European Free Alliance
Identity and Democracy Group
European Conservatives and Reformists Group
Confederal Group of the European United Left- Nordic Green Left
Powers and procedures
Legislative powers
Budgetary competences
Surveillance
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The European Council
The European Council was created in 1974 as an informal forum for discussion between heads of
state or of government of the member states of the EU. In short time, it became the body that sets
the objectives and priorities of the EU.
With the Maastricht Treaty, the European Council acquired a formal status and role, to define the
general policies of the EU.
In 2009, as a result of the changes introduced by the Lisbon Treaty, the European Council
became one of the institutions of the EU.
President of the European Council
The current President of the European Council is Charles Michel. He took office on 1 December
2019 and replaced Donald Tusk.
Members of the European Council
The members of the European Council are heads of state or of government of the 27 member
states of the EU, the President of the European Council and the president of the European
Commission, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
The role of the European Council
Its main role is to determine the EU's overall policy direction and priorities - setting the EU's
policy agenda. This is achieved through the adoption of conclusions on each meeting of the
European Council.
The Council of the European Union
The role of the EU Council

1. Negotiates and adopts the EU legislation
2. Coordinates the policies of the member states
3. Develops the Foreign and Security Policy of the EU
4. Concludes international agreements
5. Adopts the EU budget
Structure
The Council formations
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The Council of the EU brings together 10 different formations according to the subject
discussed.
The participants at the meetings are representatives at ministerial level from each member state.
The participants can therefore be ministers or secretaries of state. Meetings are chaired by the
Minister of the state member that holds the semestrial presidency of the Council.
The 10 formations of the EU Council are:

• Economic and financial affairs
• Foreign affairs
• General affairs
• Agriculture and fishing
• Competitiveness
• Education, youth, culture and sports
• Justice and internal affairs
• Environment
• Labor force, social policy, health and consumers
• Transport, telecommunications and energy
The Council of the EU Presidency

The presidency of the Council is ensured by rotation at every 6 months between member states
of the EU. The member states who hold the presidency work together closely in groups of three,
called trios. The trio sets out long-term objectives and prepare a common agenda, containing the
major topics and issues that will be addressed by the Council over a period of 18 months. The
current trio current is composed of Germany, Portugal and Slovenia.
The European Commission

Structure
The activities of the Commission are coordinated by a group of 27 commissioners, known under
the name of "college", appointed for five years.
The Commissionˈs Tasks
The European Commission designs and implements EU policies, then evaluates them on a
regular basis.
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The Commission has to monitor whether the EU legislation is applied correctly and has the role
of "guardian of the treaties".
The Commission proposes and executes the budget of the EU and manages the financing
programs of the EU.
At international level, the Commission participates in negotiating agreements and is represented
by its delegations.
2. Are the sentences true or false?
a. The president of the European Parliament is elected for a period of two and a half years.
b. The members of the European Parliament are grouped based on their nationality.
c. At present, there are 7 political groups in the European Parliament.
d. The European Parliament deals with legislation, budget and surveillance.
e. The members of the European Council are ministers from the 27 member states.
f. The European Council establishes the budget of the Union.
g. The Council of the EU has 10 formations.
h. The participants in the Council of the EU are ministers or secretaries of state.
i. The presidency of the Council is ensured by rotation at every 12 months.
j. The activities of the Commission are coordinated by a group of 27 commissioners,
known under the name of "college".
k. The Commission is also called the guardian of treaties.
3. Find the pairs of synonyms.
1. legislation-
2. policy-
3. debate-
4. treaty-
5. suffrage-
6. budgetary-
7. implementation-
4
8. government-
a. discussion b. vote c. law-making d. financial e. political strategy f. agreement g.

administration h. application
4. Match the words with the definitions.
1. budget 2. procedure 3. institution 4. suffrage 5. treaty 6. negotiation 7. government
a. a form of organization founded for a religious, educational, professional, political or

social purpose
b. the right to vote in political elections
c. an estimate of income and expenditure for a set period of time
d. an established or official way of doing something
e. the action or manner of regulating a state, organization, or people
f. discussion aimed at reaching an agreement
g. a formally concluded and ratified agreement
5. Complete the text with the following words.
a. European Commission b. law c. European Council d. Council of the European Union

e. citizens f. authorities g. administration h. financing i. investment j. monetary
The EU benefits from a unique institutional framework in which:
•The overall priorities are set by the 1…………………, which brings together national and
European leaders
•The European deputies, elected by direct voting represent the interests of 2……………. in the
European Parliament
•The interests of the Union as a whole are promoted by the 3…………………, whose members
are appointed by the national governments
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•Governments promote the interests of member states, in the 4…………………
•The Court of Justice guarantees respect for European 5……………
•The Court of Auditors controls the way of 6……………… the activities of the Union.
EU has other institutions and bodies:
•The European Central Bank is responsible for European 7……………. policy
•The Committee of European Regions represents the regional and local 8…………….
•The European Investment Bank finances projects of 9……………… of the EU and supports
small businesses through the European Investment Fund
•The European Ombudsman investigates complaints about poor 10…………………… of the

institutions and bodies of the EU
6. Watch the video about the European Union and answer the questions.
a. Explain briefly the role of each institution of the EU.

b. In your opinion, which institution of the EU is more important?
c. What do you think about the importance of the EU as an organization and its impact on
local policies?

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The European Unionˈs Institutional Framework

1. Read the following text.

The European Parliament

The Council of the European Union

The role of the EU Council

The 10 formations of the EU Council are:

The Council of the EU Presidency

The European Commission

2. Are the sentences true or false?

3. Find the pairs of synonyms.

a. discussion b. vote c. law-making d. financial e. political strategy f. agreement g.

4. Match the words with the definitions.

1. budget 2. procedure 3. institution 4. suffrage 5. treaty 6. negotiation 7. government

a. a form of organization founded for a religious, educational, professional, political or

5. Complete the text with the following words.

a. European Commission b. law c. European Council d. Council of the European Union

The EU benefits from a unique institutional framework in which:

•The Court of Justice guarantees respect for European 5……………

EU has other institutions and bodies:

•The European Central Bank is responsible for European 7……………. policy

•The European Ombudsman investigates complaints about poor 10…………………… of the

a. Explain briefly the role of each institution of the EU.

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