Download - 4 the european institutions ch4 1415
European Institutions II
• Major treaties of the EU– Rome (1957) Creation EEC– SEA (1986) Single Market– Maastricht (1992) Economic Union– Amsterdam (1997) + Nice (2001) Institutional
changes– Constitution (2004) – Lisbon (2007) Replacing Rome
and Maastricht
European Institutions III
• European Council1. Legal status in SEA2. Steering committee, meeting 4 times/year in
Brussels3. Start in 19744. Many initiatives start here5. Europe 2020
European Institutions IV
• European Commission1. Executive-bureaucratic arm of EU2. Most supranational of institutions3. More a servant of the countries than powerful4. Power of initiative; .. of implementation;
conscience of the EU; management of finances; external relations
5. Regulations, directives, decisions (page 855/836)
European Institutions V
• Council of ministers ≠ European Council ≠ Council of Europe!
1. 10 technical intergovernmental meetings2. Co-legislature [Regulations, directives, decisions]3. GAC, FAC, Ecofin, Agriculture & Fisheries4. Coreper5. Presidency is rotating6. QMV
European Institutions VI
• European Parliament1. Gained political power, but is only quasi-
legislative2. Three cities! 3. 751 members, 1 chairperson (each 2½ years)4. Right of budget5. Resignation of Commission (2/3 of votes)
European Institutions VII
• European Court of Justice1. Clarifying the meaning of the treaties2. Preliminary rulings Direct actions; only in
areas where EU is active3. 28 judges, 6 years4. Function ≈ USA Supreme Court
5. Problem: work load