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Institutions of the European Union
Moldova State University
Faculty of International Relations, Political andAdminstrative Sciences
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INTRODUCTION
+Court of Justice, The European Court of Auditors,The European Central Bank , The European
External Action Service, The European Economic
and Social Committee etc.
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European Parliament
debating and passing European laws,with the Council
scrutinising other EU
institutions, particularly the
Commission, to make sure they
are working democratically
debating andadopting the EU's
budget, with the
Council.
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5 YEARS
The number of MEPs for each country is
roughly proportionate to its population. No
country can have fewer than 6 or more than
96 and the total number cannot exceed 751
(750 plus the President). MEPs are grouped by
political affiliation, not by nationality.
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WORK PLACES
Brussels (Belgium) Strasbourg (France) Luxembourg
home to the
administrativeoffices (the General
Secretariat)meetings of the whole Parliament
(plenary sessions)
committee meetings
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The European Commission
purpose
proposing new laws to Parliament andthe Council
managing theEU's budget
and allocating
funding
enforcing EUlaw (together
with the Court
of Justice)
representing the EU internationally, for
example, by negotiating agreements
between the EU and other countries.
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one from each EU country, provide the
Commissions political leadership during their 5-
year term. Each Commissioner is assigned
responsibility for specific policy areas by the
President.
The President is nominated by the European
Council.
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The Commission is
based in Brusselsand Luxembourg and
has offices
(representations) inevery EU country
and delegations in
capital cities around
the world.
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European Council
summits where EU leadersmeet to decide on broad
political priorities and major
initiatives. Typically, thereare around 4 meetings a year,
chaired by a permanent
president.
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What does it do?
sets the EU's general political
direction and priorities, and
dealing with complex or sensitive
issues that cannot be resolved at alower level of intergovernmental
cooperation
has no powers to pass laws
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Who exactly is involved?
the heads of state or government of
every EU country
the Commission President
the European Council President, who
chairs the meetings
the EUs High Representative for
Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
N
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V
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When and where does it meet?
How are decisions taken?
Twice every 6 months, though itspresident can convene a special meeting
if needed. Usually in Brussels.
The European Council decides by consensus, except if the
Treaties provide otherwise. In some cases, it adoptsdecisions by unanimity or by qualified majority, depending
on what the Treaty provides for.
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Council of the European Union
where national ministers from each EU
country meet to adopt laws and
coordinate policies.
NOTEuropean Council
Council of Europe
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What does it do?
Passes EU laws.
Coordinates the broad economic
policies of EU member countries.
Signs agreements between the
EU and other countries.Approves the annual EU budget
Develops the EU's foreign and
defence policies.
Coordinates cooperation between
courts and police forces of
member countries.
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Who are the members of the
Council?
At each Council meeting, each country
sends the minister for the policy field
being discussede.g. the environment
minister for the meeting dealing withenvironmental matters. That meeting
will then be known as the "Environment
Council".
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Who chairs the meetings?
The foreign ministers Council has a
permanent chairperson
the EU's High
Representative for foreign and security
policy.
All other Council meetings are chaired
by the relevant minister of the country
holding the rotating EU presidency.
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Voting
Decisions in the Council of the EU are taken by
qualified majority as a general rule.
Germany, France, Italy and the United Kingdom: 29 votes
Spain and Poland: 27
Romania: 14Netherlands: 13
Belgium, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary and Portugal: 12
Austria, Bulgaria and Sweden: 10
Croatia, Denmark, Ireland, Lithuania, Slovakia and Finland: 7
Cyprus, Estonia, Latvia, Luxembourg and Slovenia: 4Malta: 3
= TOTAL: 352
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When the Council votes, 'qualified majority voting'
applies. A qualified majority is reached WHEN:
-a majority (sometimes even two thirds) of the 28 EU
countries vote in favour
-at least 260 of the possible 352 votes are cast
From 2014 a system known as 'double majority voting' isintroduced.
For a proposal to go through, it will need the support of 2
types of majority: a majority of countries (at least 15) and
a majority of the total EU population (the countries infavour must represent at least 65% of the EU population).