The European Institutions

The European Council (Brussels)

The European Council WHAT IS IT? It defines the general political direction and priorities of the European Union. With the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon on 1 December 2009 It became an institution. WHO IS THE PRESIDENT? Its President is Herman Van Rompuy HOW IS IT COMPOSED? The European Council consists of the Heads of State or Government of the Member States, together with its President and the President of the Commission. WHAT DOES IT DO? The European Council provides the Union with the necessary impetus for its development and defines the general political directions and priorities thereof. It does not exercise legislative functions.

The European Parliament Strasbourg Brussels

The European Parliament WHAT IS IT? The European Parliament is the only supranational institution whose members are democratically elected by direct universal suffrage. It represents the people of the Member States. WHO IS THE PRESIDENT? Its President is Jerzy Buzek HOW IS IT COMPOSED? The European Parliament is made up of 736 Members elected in the 27 Member States by direct universal suffrage for a five-year period. WHAT DOES IT DO? The European Parliament shares legislative power equally with the Council of the European Union.

The European Commission (Brussels)

The European Commission WHAT IS IT? The European Commission is the EU's executive body. WHO IS THE PRESIDENT? José Manuel Barroso. HOW IS IT COMPOSED? It is composed by 27 Members, one from each Member State. WHAT DOES IT DO? It represents and upholds the interests of Europe as a whole. It drafts proposals for new European laws. The Commission also makes sure that everyone abides by the European treaties and laws. Maria Damanaki Michel Bernier Olli Rehn Antonio Tajani Gunter Oettinger

The Court of Auditors Luxembourg

The Court of Auditors WHAT IS IT? WHO IS THE PRESIDENT? The European Court of Auditors is the EU institution established by the Treaty to carry out the audit of EU finances. WHO IS THE PRESIDENT? Vitor Manuel da Silva Caldeira HOW IS IT COMPOSED? It is composed by 27 Members, one from each Member State. WHAT DOES IT DO? The European Court of Auditors checks that EU funds are correctly accounted for and spent in compliance with the rules and legislation, with due consideration for achieving best value for money, irrespective of where the funds are spent

The Court of Justice Since the establishment of the Court of Justice of the European Union in 1952 ,its mission has been to ensure that "the law is observed" "in the interpretation and application" of the Treaties. WHAT DOES IT DO? As part of that mission, the Court of Justice of the European Union: reviews the legality of the acts of the institutions of the European Union, ensures that the Member States comply with obligations under the Treaties, And interprets European Union law at the request of the national courts and tribunals.The Court constitutes the judicial authority of the European Union and, in cooperation with the courts and tribunals of the Member States, it ensuresthe uniform application and interpretation of European Union law.

The Court of Justice Luxembourg

It consists of three courts: The importance of languages the Court of Justice the General Court (created in 1988) the Civil Service Tribunal (created in 2004) Since their establishment approximately 15 000 judgments have been delivered by the three courts. The importance of languages As each Member State has its own language and specific legal system, the Court of Justice of the European Union is a multilingual institution. Its language arrangements have no equivalent in any other court in the world, since each of the official languages of the European Union can be the language of a case.

HOW IS IT COMPOSED? The Court of Justice is composed of 27 Judges and eight Advocates General. The Judges and Advocates General are appointed by common accord of the governments of the Member States. They are appointed for a term of office of six years, which is renewable The Judges of the Court of Justice elect one of themselves as President for a renewable term of three years. The Advocates General assist the Court. The Court may sit as a full court in case of exceptional importance. in a Grand Chamber of 13 Judges in Chambers of three or five Judges.