THE EUROPEAN UNION Lesson 5 How does the structure of government within the EU compare with the structure of government in the United States?

The EU Institutions European Council (Summit) European Parliament Council of the EU European Commission Court of Justice Court of Auditors Committee of the Regions Economic and Social Committee European Investment Bank European Central Bank Agencies

Promoting the common interest Three Key Players The European Commission Promoting the common interest

European Commission President José Manuel Barroso 28 Commissioners, each responsible for specific policy areas representing the common European perspective Proposes new legislation and enforces laws Manages Europe’s multilateral development cooperation European Commission President José Manuel Barroso

The European Commission promoting the common interest Manages and implements EU policies and budget Guardian of the treaties Negotiates trade agreements Represents the EU on the international stage 28 independent members, one from each EU country

Council of the European Union EU’s main decision-making body, comprised of ministers of 28 Member States, representing each Member State’s point of view Decides on foreign policy issues Council presidency rotates among Member States every six months

Council of the European Union voice of the member states One minister from each EU country Presidency: rotates every six months Decides EU laws and budget together with Parliament Manages the common foreign and security policy

Council of the European Union number of votes per country Germany, France, Italy and the United Kingdom 29 Spain and Poland 27 Romania 14 Netherlands 13 Belgium, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary and Portugal 12 Austria, Bulgaria and Sweden 10 Croatia, Denmark, Ireland, Lithuania, Slovakia and Finland 7 Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Luxembourg and Slovenia 4 Malta 3 Total: 352 “Qualified majority” needed for many decisions: 260 votes and a majority of member states From 2014: 55% of the Member States with 65% of the population

European Parliament Voice of European citizens Members elected for five-year terms With the Council, passes EU laws and adopts EU budgets Approves EU Commissioners

The European Parliament voice of the people Decides EU laws and budget together with Council of Ministers Democratic supervision of all the EU’s work Number of members elected in each country (July 2013) Austria 19 6 Estonia Italy 73 Portugal 22 Belgium 22 Finland 13 9 Latvia Romania 33 Bulgaria 18 France 74 Lithuania 12 13 Slovakia Croatia 12 Germany 99 6 Luxembourg Slovenia 8 Cyprus 6 Greece 22 Malta 6 54 Spain Czech Republic 22 Hungary 22 Netherlands 26 Sweden 20 Denmark 13 12 Ireland Poland 51 72 United Kingdom Total 766

The European Political Parties Number of seats in the European Parliament per political group (July 2013) Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe 85 European People’s Party (Christian Democrats) 275 Greens/European Free Alliance 58 Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats 196 European Conservatives and Reformists 55 Europe of Freedom and Democracy 35 European United Left - Nordic Green Left 34 Total : 766 Non-attached members 28

European Court of Justice Highest EU judicial authority Ensures all EU laws are interpreted and applied correctly and uniformly Can act as an independent policy maker but unlike the U.S. Supreme Court, the ECJ can only deal with matters covered by the Treaties

The European Court of Justice upholding the law Rules on how to interpret EU law Ensures EU countries apply EU laws in the same way 28 independent judges, one from each EU country

How EU laws are made Citizens, interest groups, experts: discuss, consult Commission: makes formal proposal Parliament and Council of Ministers: decide jointly National or local authorities: implement Commission and Court of Justice: monitor implementation

Summit of the European Council heads of state and government of all EU countries Held at least 4 times a year Sets the overall guidelines for EU policies President: Herman Van Rompuy

The European Central Bank managing the euro Ensures price stability Controls money supply and decides interest rates Works independently from governments

The European Court of Auditors getting value for your money Checks that EU funds are used properly Can audit any person or organization dealing with EU funds 28 Independent members

Civil servants working for the EU The Commission employs about 23,000 permanent civil servants and 11,000 temporary or contract workers Other EU institutions: about 10,000 employed EU administration costs €15 per EU citizen per year