1. The Institution of the European Union Lenka Kaderová

2. Content Executive Executive European Commission European Commission Legislature Legislature Council of the European Union Council of the European Union European Parliament European Parliament Judiciary Judiciary European Court of Justice European Court of Justice European court of Auditors European court of Auditors Non-institutional bodies Non-institutional bodies European Council European Council European Central Bank European Central Bank European Investment Bank European Investment Bank Economic and Social Committee Economic and Social Committee Committee of the Regions Committee of the Regions

3. European Commission the Commission of the European Communities Established in 1950´s (ECSC) Established in 1950´s (ECSC) One of the three main institutions One of the three main institutions Acts as an executive or civil service of sorts Acts as an executive or civil service of sorts Responsibilities : Responsibilities : power of initiative in “first pillar“ power of initiative in “first pillar“ guardian of the treaties guardian of the treaties negotiates international trade agreements (WTO) negotiates international trade agreements (WTO) regulates competition in the Union regulates competition in the Union monitors member states monitors member states Berlaymont in Brussels

4. European Commission the Commission of the European Communities Election every five year Election every five year The current Commission will serve till November 2009 The current Commission will serve till November 2009 President President nominated by the European Council nominated by the European Council officially elected by the European Parliament officially elected by the European Parliament José Manuel Durão Barroso José Manuel Durão Barroso Commissioners Commissioners are appointed by the member-states are appointed by the member-states namend by the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament namend by the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament act in European interests act in European interests only 8 of the current 27 Commissioners are women only 8 of the current 27 Commissioners are women José Manuel Durão Barroso Vladimír Špidla

5. Council of the EU Council of Ministers The legislative arm of the EU The legislative arm of the EU Divided into several different councils (Economic and Financial Affairs, Agriculture and Fisheries, Justice and Home Affairs Council,..) Divided into several different councils (Economic and Financial Affairs, Agriculture and Fisheries, Justice and Home Affairs Council,..) Generally the Council meets 1 in a month Generally the Council meets 1 in a month The presidency is held for six months by each Member State (Germany then Portugal, CR in 2009) The presidency is held for six months by each Member State (Germany then Portugal, CR in 2009) The number of votes each Member State can cast is set by the Treaties (Germany,UK,.. – 29; CR, Belgium,.. – 12) The number of votes each Member State can cast is set by the Treaties (Germany,UK,.. – 29; CR, Belgium,.. – 12) The Justus Lipsius Building

6. Council of the EU Council of Ministers Has a President Has a President Minister of the state currently holding the Presidency of the Council of the EU (Germany) Minister of the state currently holding the Presidency of the Council of the EU (Germany) Frank-Walter Steinmeier Frank-Walter Steinmeier Has a Secretary-General Has a Secretary-General Head of the Council Secretariat Head of the Council Secretariat Chosen by the member states by unanimity Chosen by the member states by unanimity Serves as the High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) Serves as the High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) Javier Solana Javier Solana Ministers usually belong to national parties – European political parties Ministers usually belong to national parties – European political parties European People's Party European People's Party European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party Alliance for Europe of the Nations Alliance for Europe of the Nations Has a President Has a President Minister of the state currently holding the Presidency of the Council of the EU (Germany) Minister of the state currently holding the Presidency of the Council of the EU (Germany) Frank-Walter Steinmeier Frank-Walter Steinmeier Has a Secretary-General Has a Secretary-General Head of the Council Secretariat Head of the Council Secretariat Chosen by the member states by unanimity Chosen by the member states by unanimity Serves as the High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) Serves as the High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) Javier Solana Javier Solana Ministers usually belong to national parties – European political parties Ministers usually belong to national parties – European political parties European People's Party European People's Party European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party Alliance for Europe of the Nations Alliance for Europe of the Nations Frank-Walter Steinmeier Javier Solana

7. European Parliament Parliament Forms the legislative branch together with the Council Forms the legislative branch together with the Council Responsibilities: Responsibilities: Legislative power Legislative power – codetermination about EU laws and directive introduced by the Comission Budget power Budget power – controls the EU budget – must be approved by the Council in order to become law Control power Control power – monitors all activities of the EU – controls a nomination of the Commission – Protection of Human Rights – appoints the European Ombudsman Political power Political power – Still grows up – Cooperate with the Council – all foreign policy, new members of the EU,… Strasbourg seat of EP The EP in Brussels

8. European Parliament Parliament Has a number of governing bodies, committees, and delegations to external bodies Has a number of governing bodies, committees, and delegations to external bodies  President ▪ Quaestor  Vice-Presidents ▪ Conference of Committee Chairmen  Bureau ▪ Conference of Delegation Chairmen  Conference of Presidents ▪ Political Groups President of the European Parliament President of the European Parliament presides plenary sittings and the meetings of the Bureau and Conference of Presidents presides plenary sittings and the meetings of the Bureau and Conference of Presidents represents EP in all external relations, international relations represents EP in all external relations, international relations Hans-Gert Pöttering (Germany) – elected by MEPs Hans-Gert Pöttering (Germany) – elected by MEPs MEPs – Members of the European Parliament MEPs – Members of the European Parliament elected every 5 years by universal adult suffrage elected every 5 years by universal adult suffrage currently 785 MEPs – after next election 736 currently 785 MEPs – after next election 736 seats are allocated to member-states according to their population seats are allocated to member-states according to their population Political groups Political groups must consist of 20 MEPs from 6 different member states must consist of 20 MEPs from 6 different member states chairs (Conference of Presidents) – issues to deal with at the plenary chairs (Conference of Presidents) – issues to deal with at the plenary European People's Party–European Democrats (EPP-ED), Group of the Party of European Socialists, European Greens–European Free Alliance (Greens-EFA), … European People's Party–European Democrats (EPP-ED), Group of the Party of European Socialists, European Greens–European Free Alliance (Greens-EFA), … Hans-Gert Pöttering The EP groups as of January 1, 2007 Logo of the EP

9. European Court of Justice The Court of Justice of the European Communities The highest court of the EU The highest court of the EU Common sentences: Common sentences: Claims by the Commission – MS has not implemented a EU Directive or other legal requirement Claims by the Commission – MS has not implemented a EU Directive or other legal requirement Claims by MS - the Commission has exceeded its authority Claims by MS - the Commission has exceeded its authority References from national courts in the EU – question about the meaning or validity of a particular piece of EU law References from national courts in the EU – question about the meaning or validity of a particular piece of EU law Organization: Organization: President (3 years) President (3 years) – directs the judicial business and administration of the Court – selected by the Judges, Vassilios Skouris (Greece) 27 Judges 27 Judges – nominated by each member state 8 Advocates General (6 years) 8 Advocates General (6 years) – assist with each case and deliver their opinions on questions Registry Registry – help the President and the Judges in all their official function Assistant Rapporteurs Assistant Rapporteurs – assist the President and the Judges Vassilios Skouris Seat in Luxembourg Logo of ECJ

10. European court of Auditors Established in 1975 (Budgetary Treaty) Established in 1975 (Budgetary Treaty) one member from each EU country one member from each EU country appointed by the Council for 6 years appointed by the Council for 6 years chosen for their competence and independence chosen for their competence and independence work full-time for the Court work full-time for the Court elect one of them as a President elect one of them as a President - Hubert Weber (Austria) Functions: Functions: checks that the EU budget is correctly installed checks that the EU budget is correctly installed investigates the paperwork of any organization handling EU income or expenditure investigates the paperwork of any organization handling EU income or expenditure helps the budgetary authority (EP, Council) - presents every year a report on the previous financial year helps the budgetary authority (EP, Council) - presents every year a report on the previous financial year gives an opinion before the EU's financial regulations are adopted gives an opinion before the EU's financial regulations are adopted Seat of ECA in Luxembourg Hubert Weber

11. European Council European Summit Not currently recognised as an official institution (with no specific authority) Not currently recognised as an official institution (with no specific authority) The supreme political body of the EU The supreme political body of the EU gives the Union its general policy direction gives the Union its general policy direction Members Members the heads of state or government of the member-states the heads of state or government of the member-states President – Angela Merkel (Germany) President – Angela Merkel (Germany) Meeting 4 times a year Meeting 4 times a year Angela Merkel

12. European Central Bank Responsible for the monetary policy within the Eurozone (13 states) Responsible for the monetary policy within the Eurozone (13 states) to maintain price stability to maintain price stability to keep inflation low to keep inflation low to support the economic policies – employment and economic growth to support the economic policies – employment and economic growth Established in 1998 Established in 1998 Seat is in Frankfurt (Germany) Seat is in Frankfurt (Germany) Government: Government: President (8 years) Jean-Claude Trichet President (8 years) Jean-Claude Trichet Board of directors Board of directors Board of governors (members of the board of directors and representatives of the local central banks within the ESCB) Board of governors (members of the board of directors and representatives of the local central banks within the ESCB) ECB tower in FrankfurtJean-Claude Trichet Logo of ECB

13. European Investment Bank The EU's financing institution The EU's financing institution Non-profit-making Non-profit-making Financed through borrowing on the financial markets and by the Bank’s shareholders (MS of the EU) Financed through borrowing on the financial markets and by the Bank’s shareholders (MS of the EU) Provide financing for: Provide financing for: particular regional development particular regional development Trans-European Networks of transport Trans-European Networks of transport telecommunications and energy telecommunications and energy research, development and innovation research, development and innovation environmental improvement and protection environmental improvement and protection health and education health and education Seat of the EIB in Luxembourg Logo of the EIB

14. Advisory Committees The Economic and Social Committee The Economic and Social Committee Advises on economic and social policy (relations between workers and employers) Advises on economic and social policy (relations between workers and employers) Members (344) Members (344) – representatives of various industries and work sectors – appointed by the Council (4 year) – 3 groups - employers, employees, various interests – president is Dimitris Dimitriadis The Committee of the Regions The Committee of the Regions No powers of its own it - must be consulted by the Council and Commission on various matters No powers of its own it - must be consulted by the Council and Commission on various matters Advises on regional issues Advises on regional issues Members (344) Members (344) – representative of regional and local authorities – appointed by the Council (4 yeats) – organised in political groups – president is Michel Delebarre Dimitris Dimitriadis Michel Delebarre Logo of the EESC Logo of the CoR

15. THE END Thank you for your attention!!!