1. Other Institutions
Slides to support Chapter 13 of The Government and Politics of the European Union, 7th ed., by Neill Nugent

2. The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC): Rationale
There was a presumed need for a forum in which sectional interests could express their views and supplement the popular will
Sectional interests would be directly affected by policy developments, and key to taking forward integration
It was not imagined that the Assembly (later EP) would be effective at expressing sectional views
So, the EEC treaty provided for a common Economic and Social Committee, renamed since 2003 the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC)

3. EESC 2: Membership
344 members (24 each for France, Germany, UK, Italy; 5 for Malta)
Members proposed by national governments, and appointed by Council of Ministers
3 groups:
Employers
Employees (most are from national trade unions)
Various interests (agriculture, small business, public agencies, local authorities, consumer groups, green groups, etc.)

4. EESC 3: Responsibilities
Issues info reports on matters of interest and concern
Seeks to promote understanding between sectional interests
Issues opinions on a range of EU matters. It must be consulted on various policy areas (agriculture, internal market, social policy, regional policy, etc.), but it also has the right to issue its own opinions on whatever matter it wishes
Issues about 200 consultative documents per year, sometimes with minority opinions as annexes

5. EESC 4: Impact Its influence is somewhat marginal. Why?
Corporatist structure rather old-fashioned
EESC only one of many sources of specialist advice
Sectional interests can often find more useful channels for exercising influence on EU policy
Formal powers relatively weak
Members of EESC only serve on a part time basis
Commission, Council and EP have often already largely made up their minds when issues are referred to EESC

6. The Committee of the Regions (CoR) 1: Rationale
Great variations in wealth between regions of countries call for rectifying and compensatory measures at EU level
Commission has encouraged sub-national levels of government to play a role, particularly with regard to Structural Funds
Regional governments don’t want to be controlled by national governments, so they want to establish their own lines of communication to Brussels

7. CoR 2: Membership Size and national composition same as EESC
Members must (since Lisbon) be elected members of regional or local authorities or be politically accountable to an elected assembly
Countries with clear regional structures (Belgium, France, Netherlands, …) allocate at least half of places to regional representatives, while other countries have sent reps mainly from local councils
Political groups parallel the main groups in the EP and have official status in the CoR

8. CoR 3: Responsibilities and Impact
Must be consulted in respect of economic and social cohesion, energy infrastructure networks, public health, transport, enlargement, combating social exclusion, environment, cross-border cooperation
In 2008, 61 opinions and 3 resolutions. Tend to emphasize – unsurprisingly – that sub-national levels of govt should play a role in identification, management and evaluation of EU policy
Similarly weak as the EESC, for similar reasons, especially the fact that the interests it represents have more effective channels open to them

9. European Agencies 1: Rationale
Policy requirements can be examined independently from those who are politically responsible for policy
Less centrally controlled agencies can provide greater flexibility
Ability to use technical experts in specialized areas is increased
Relieves some of the Commission’s workload
Credibility of long-term policy commitments can be enhanced if aspects of policy are removed from the political process

10. European Agencies 2: Membership
Executive agencies established by a common Council regulation, to manage EU programmes for a limited period (e.g. Executive Agency for Health and Consumers)
Regulatory agencies established on their own legal bases and politically more important. Still, entrusted with only very limited decision-making powers
Providing technical or scientific advice to the Commission (e.g. European Food Safety Authority
In charge of operational activities (e.g. Europol)
Gathering and analyzing info (e.g. European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control)

11. European Investment Bank (EIB)
A source of investment finance for projects that further EU goals. Therefore, projects must do at least one of:
contribute to economic development of less prosperous regions
contribute to innovation and competitiveness
be of common interest to at least several member states
be financially and technically viable, and guaranteed by adequate security
The EIB is the largest IFI on capital markets, and a useful source of medium- and long-term finance for EU-oriented projects, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises

12. The European Central Bank (ECB) 1
The ECB is the core institution of the European System of Central Banks (ESCB)
The main objective of the ESCB is to maintain price stability - i.e. to control inflation – in the eurozone
To this end, the ECB defines and implements the monetary policy of the eurozone (including setting the base interest rate), conducts foreign exchange operations, supplies reserves, and manages the official foreign reserves of eurozone countries

13. The European Central Bank (ECB) 2
The Governing Council meets twice a month. It comprises governors of the eurozone national central banks and the ECB Executive Board
The Executive Board consists of 6 members appointed by the Council ‘from among persons of recognized standing an professional experience in monetary or banking matters’. It is charged with implementing policy in line with Governing Council guidelines and decisions
The General Council also includes governors of NCBs from non-eurozone member states. It is a forum for considering monetary and exchange rate policies of these countries.

14. The Court of Auditors
There are 27 members, one from each member state, who have held an appointment in an external audit body in their own country
It examines all EU revenue and expenditure to check whether it has been received and incurred in a lawful manner, and whether the financial management of EU authorities is sound
It undertakes its task on the basis of Commission documentation as well as its own investigations
It also delivers reports on a range of subjects (e.g. in 2009 the Commission’s management of non-state actors involved in development cooperation policies)