Enlarging the European Union Sources on EU Law, Policy and Statistics Duncan Alford Princeton University
CANDIDATE COUNTRIES NEGOTIATIONS CONCLUDED MAY 2004 ACCESSION ESTONIA LATVIA LITHUANIA POLAND CZECH REP. SLOVAKIA HUNGARY SLOVENIA CYPRUS MALTA NEGOTIATIONS ONGOING ROMANIA BULGARIA ACCEPTED FOR MEMBERSHIP TURKEY APPLICATION ON HOLD SWITZERLAND
europa.eu.int/comm/enlargement/negotiations/treaty_of_accession_2003/table_of_content_en.htm
THE INSTITUTIONS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
EU Specialized Agencies
36 Directorates-General (“DGs”) and Services Sole right to propose legislation “Guardian of the Treaties” Implements common policies 20 Commissioners (5 year terms) Romano Prodi Commission President
COLLEGIATE BODY - OPERATES BY CONSENSUS MEETS WEEKLY ON WEDNESDAY CURRENT COMPOSITION OF THE COMMISSON
europa.eu.int/comm/dgs_en.htm
626 Members popularly elected Seated by party affiliation, not country Co-decision with Council in many areas Adopts EU budget Meetings in Strasbourg and Brussels Pat Cox President of the European Parliament
European People’s Party (232) European Socialists (175) European Liberal, Democrat and Reform Party European United Left/Nordic Green Left (49) Greens/European Free Alliance (45) Union for Europe of the Nations (23) Europe of Democracies and Diversities (18) Non Attached (31)
PRESIDENT PLENARY SESSIONS Monthly PLENARY SESSIONS Monthly 17 STANDING COMMITTEES TEMPORARY COMMITTEES DELEGATIONS 17 STANDING COMMITTEES TEMPORARY COMMITTEES DELEGATIONS BUREAU Budget Staff BUREAU Budget Staff CONFERENCE OF PRESIDENTS Political Organization CONFERENCE OF PRESIDENTS Political Organization PARLIAMENT ORGANIZATION
Italy July – December 2003 Heads of State or Government of the Member States President of the European Commission Meets at least twice a year – June and December Sets broad policy and political guidelines for the Union
Decision-making body comprises 15 Member State ministers Composition changes by subject Rotating 6 month “Presidency” COREPER (Committee of Permanent Representatives) act as ambassadors to EU, based in Brussels Italy July – December 2003
ORGANIZED INTEREST REPRESENTATION: BUSINESS, LABOR, CONSUMERS, GENERAL PUBLIC 222 MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE COUNCIL FOR FOUR YEAR TERMS RESPONSIBILITIES: OPINIONS ON LEGISLATION REFERRED TO IT OWN INITIATIVE OPINIONS EXPLORATORY OPINIONS ON COMMISSION REQUEST
SET UP BY MAASTRICHT TREATY 222 MEMBERS AND 222 ALTERNATES APPOINTED BY THE COUNCIL ADVISES ON EU LEGISATION AND ISSUES OWN OPINIONS RESPONSIBILITIES: AGRICULTURE REGIONAL POLICY AND SPATIAL PLANNING TRANSPORT SOCIAL POLICY AND EMPLOYMENT HEALTH AND CONSUMERS EDUCATION, YOUTH, SPORT
The European Court of Justice Interprets treaties and community law 15 Justices - 6 year terms Member State courts may request guidance Court of First Instance created
Three principal actors in the legislative process Council Commission Parliament Conciliation Committee
EUROPA: ACTIVITIES PAGE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
europa.eu.int/geninfo/info/guide/dbsubject/index_en.htm
OFFICIAL JOURNAL: MAIN SCREEN
OFFICIAL JOURNAL: ANNUAL CHRONO LISTING
LEGISLATION: MAIN SCREEN
LEGISLATION: DIRECTORY OF LEGISLATION IN FORCE
LEGISLATION IN PREPARATION: MAIN SCREEN
CASE LAW: MAIN SCREEN
PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS: MAIN SCREEN
DOCUMENTS OF PUBLIC INTEREST: MAIN SCREEN
DOCUMENTS OF PUBLIC INTEREST: BY TYPE
DOCUMENTS OF PUBLIC INTEREST: CATEGORY
PREPARING FOR ENLARGEMENT: MAIN SCREEN
Eurostat Statistical Office of the European Communities Collects and harmonizes information from national statistical offices Numeric data available through vendors
EU LAWS & POLICIES
Research Guides Accessing European Union Information, EU Delegation – European Union Documents Research Guide, Princeton University – Guide to European Union Legal Research, Harvard University – /eu_legal_research.htm
EU Depository Libraries New Jersey –Princeton University New York City –NYU Law Library –NYPL, Science, Industry and Business Library New York State –SUNY Albany –SUNY Buffalo –Cornell University Pennsylvania –Univ. of Pennsylvania –Pennsylvania State Univ.
Facts to Remember Europa, EU Delegation, Official Journal of the European Union –On EurLex since January 1998 Research Guides EU Depository Libraries