1. The EU institutions and the decision-making process
Dr Stathis Klonaris

2. The European Union is
Less than a federation (unlike the United States)
But more than an intergovernmental organisation (unlike the United Nations)
Rather unique structure:
Member States remain independent sovereign nations
Delegate some of their decision-making powers to shared institutions
Specific matters of joint interest

3. The treaties – basis for democratic cooperation built on law
1952 The European Steel and Coal Community
1958 The treaties of Rome:
The European Economic Community
The European Atomic Energy Community
(EURATOM)
2009 Treaty of Lisbon
1987 The European Single Act: the Single Market
1993 Treaty of European Union – Maastricht
2003 Treaty of Nice
1999 Treaty of Amsterdam 3

4. Institutions/bodies in the European Union
European Council incl. the President of the
EU Commission and the High Representative
Europ. Investment Bank (EIB)
Europ. Investment Fund
(EIF)
Council of the
European Union
European Economic and
Social Committee
European Commission
(EC)
European Central Bank
Committee of the Regions (CoR)
European Parliament
(EP)
European External
Action Service
Institutions
Autonomous bodies
Court of
Justice
of the EU
Court of
Auditors
of the EU
Decentralised bodies
of the EU (executive and
traditional agencies)
Advisory bodies 4

5. EU Institutions

6. EU Institutions: 3. European Council
Summit of Heads of State or government of all EU countries
Held at least 4 times a year
Sets the overall guidelines for EU policies
President: Donald Tusk 6

7. Resident of the European Council
New function! Attributed to an individual for 2,5 year
Appointed by QM of the European Council
Herman Van Rompuy -> Donald Tusk (since 1 December 2014)

8. President of the European Council
Reaction to the weaknesses of the rotating six-months depersonalised Presidency of the Council
The Presidency of the Council/European Council was, at the start, intended mostly for internal purposes, but over the years it acquired a central role externally in CFSP*
Post-Lisbon: Individual Presidency of the European Council remains contrasted to MSs’ Presidency of the Council
Role: chair meetings of the European Council; ensure its functioning; present a report to the EP; ensure external representation of the Union in CFSP at his/her level and in that capacity (Lisbon Treaty 15(6))
Is his external role competing with that of High Representative?
* CFSP: Common Foreign and Security Policy

9. EU Institutions: 2. European Commission
28 independent members, one from each EU country
Proposes new legislation
Executes budget and manages programs
Ensures application of the treaties
(Currently one Commissioner per Member State with own portfolio) 9

10. What does the Commission do?
Proposes New laws
The Commission is the sole EU institution tabling laws for adoption by the Parliament and the Council that:
protect the interests of the EU and its citizens on issues that can't be dealt with effectively at national level;
get technical details right by consulting experts and the public.
Manages EU policies & allocates EU funding
Sets EU spending priorities, together with the Council and Parliament.
Draws up annual budgets for approval by the Parliament and Council.
Supervises how the money is spent, under scrutiny by the Court of Auditors.
Enforces EU Law
Together with the Court of Justice, ensures that EU law is properly applied in all the member countries.
Represents the EU internationally
Speaks on behalf of all EU countries in international bodies, in particular in areas of trade policy and humanitarian aid.
Negotiates international agreements for the EU.

11. EU Institutions: 2.European Parliament
Legislative and budgetary functions
Political control
Elects President of the Commission 11

12. EU Institutions: 2.European Parliament
8 Political groups
44 Delegations
Plenary
During plenary sessions MEPs vote for European laws and take positions on issues through debates.
24 Committees
751 MEPs

13. 7 5 1 EP: Seat distribution after the elections 96 74 73 54 51 32 2621 20 18 17 13 11 8 6 7 5 1
Germany
France
United Kingdom
Italy
Spain
Poland
Romania
The Netherlands
Belgium
Czech Republic
Greece
Hungary
Portugal
Sweden
Austria
Bulgaria
Denmark
Finland
Slovakia
Croatia
Ireland
Lithuania
Latvia
Slovenia
Estonia
Cyprus
Luxemburg
Malta

14. WHO should tramp or Putin CALL?
European President?
European Commission President?
High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy?
President/Prime-minister of a state holding rotating presidency?

15. EU Institutions: 4. Council of the European Union
Representatives of Member States
at ministerial level
Work prepared by Committee of Permanent
Representatives of the Governments
of Member States
Legislative and budgetary functions 15

16. Configurations of the Council of Ministers
General Affairs and External Relations
Economic and Financial Affairs
Cooperation in the fields of Justice and Home Affairs
Employment, Social policy, Health and Consumer Affairs
Competitiveness
Transport, Telecommunication und Energy
Agriculture and Fisheries
Environment
Education, Youth and Culture 16

17. How does the Council Vote?
Simple majority (15 member states vote in favour)
Qualified majority (55% of member states, representing at least 65% of the EU population, vote in favour)
Unanimous vote (all votes are in favour)

19. Qualified Majority 80% of the EU legislation
The "double majority" rule has been applied since 1 November 2014 up to 2017.
1. When the Council acted on a proposal by the Commission or the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy a decision is deemed adopted if:
•55% of the member states vote in favour and
•they represent at least 65% of the total EU population
In addition, the blocking minority must include at least 4 Council members representing at least 35% of the EU population.
When not all Council members participated in the vote as was foreseen in the treaties, a decision was adopted if 55% of the participating Council members, representing at least 65% of the population of the participating member states, vote in favour.
2. When the Council did not act on a proposal from the Commission or the High Representative a decision is adopted if:
•at least 72% of Council members vote in favour
•they represent at least 65% of the EU population 19

20. The decision-making process
EU legal acts
Regulation: – general application, directly applicable in Member States
Directive: – general application, binding framework for implementation in national legislation
Decision: - directly binding upon those addressed
Recommandation: opinion – no binding force 20

21. The decision-making process
How EU laws are made
The decision-making process
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 21

22. Ordinary legislative procedure
Summary of the procedure:
The European Commission submits a proposal to the Council and the European Parliament
The Council and the Parliament adopt a legislative proposal either at the first reading or at the second reading
If the two institutions do not reach an agreement after the second reading a conciliation committee is convened
If the text agreed by the conciliation committee is acceptable to both institutions at the third reading, the legislative act is adopted
The Commission can always withdraw its proposal

23. Legislative procedure

24. Thank you very much for your attention!
I am available for your questions.