European Union Institutions
Declaration of Robert Schuman
Robert Schuman, the French Foreign Minister, presented the first declaration on May 9, 1950, pertaining to a united Europe. He believed that achieving world peace was essential and that functionalism was the key to solving the problems at hand. The declaration aimed to ease tensions between Germany and France due to historical conflicts. Schuman proposed pooling coal and steel production of both countries under a High Authority within an international organization open to other European countries. This pooling of resources would immediately create a common base for economic development and foster cooperation. This led to the establishment of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) in 1951, marking the beginning of economic integration and the movement towards a united Europe.
European Parliament
The European Parliament represents the people within the EU. Its members represent over 500 million citizens across 27 member states. Parliamentarians are chosen through universal suffrage every five years, with the number of representatives ranging from 80 to 200 depending on the demographic size of each member state (e.g., Germany has 99 MEPs, while Spain has 50). The presidency of the government lasts for two and a half years. The European Parliament holds regular sessions and can convene extraordinary sessions upon request by a majority of its members (Council or Commission). Parliamentarians from different member states are grouped according to their ideologies (e.g., European People’s Party, Party of European Socialists) within the European Parliament. Each group has a president, and meetings are held for presidents, including those not affiliated with a specific group. Currently, there are eight non-affiliated groups. Parliament sessions are held in Strasbourg, Brussels, and Luxembourg.
Parliamentary Advantages:
- Freedom of movement
- Inviolability of votes
- Protection in any court proceedings
Competencies of the European Parliament:
Legislative Competencies:
Previously, these competencies did not exist, but currently, the Parliament participates in the exercise of legislative competencies alongside the Council. The Parliament exercises five procedures with varying degrees of involvement from the institution: consultation, cooperation, co-decision, assent, and conformity. Under the EU Treaty, the Parliament enjoys a genuine legislative power and can request the Commission to present proposals for acts, according to its priorities, which require Community action.
Political Control Competencies:
These primarily affect the Commission, such as participating in the investiture vote and the appointment and dismissal of the Commission. The Parliament can present a motion of censure to dismiss the entire College of Commissioners. It can also:
- Ask oral and written questions to the Commission or the Council
- Proceed with general policy debates
- Receive individual and collective petitions presented by citizens relating to any field of EU action
- Appoint the European Ombudsman
Budgetary Competencies:
During the budget production process, the Parliament exercises the following roles: consultative body, collaboration and preparation, presentation of amendments, approval, and final control of execution.
European Commission
The European Commission is an independent and autonomous institution representing the general interest of the EU. It acts as the legislator, proposing all legislative acts and ensuring their proper implementation. It also functions as the executive body.
Format:
The Commission consists of independent commissioners, one per member state, with each commissioner responsible for a specific policy area and directing a portion of the Commission’s services. The members serve a five-year term and are nominated by the Council with a qualified majority. The President of the Commission is designated by the Council and elected by the European Parliament. The College of Commissioners is invested by the European Parliament, which can also dismiss them via a motion of censure. They meet weekly in closed sessions, with only a secretary present to record the meeting.
Competencies of the European Commission:
Legislative Competencies:
The Commission has the exclusive legislative initiative, which involves presenting proposals for Community acts to the Council and the European Parliament. It exercises its own initiative or at the request of the European Parliament.
Control Competencies:
It ensures compliance with treaties, verifying alongside the Court of Justice that treaties are applied and that member states do not violate them. The Commission decides to initiate infringement proceedings and examines controls on member states, controls the correct application of Community law, and may impose penalties or fines on legal or natural persons.
Executive Competencies:
It exercises limited autonomous regulatory power in specific matters enumerated in the treaties, mainly in the scope of customs union or financial execution. It also occupies the executive functions delegated by the Council, as long as it is not delegated to another body.
Competencies in External Relations:
It is responsible for maintaining external relations with member states, countries, and international organizations such as the United Nations and other international bodies. Authorized by the Council, it proceeds with negotiations and concludes international treaties with third-party states or organizations.
Council of the European Union (Brussels)
The Council is the main institution of the EU, representing the member states that form it. It is the primary legislative body and makes decisions on EU policies. Council representatives from governments defend their interests and establish common commitments through decisions.
Composition:
Delegates from member states hold ministerial rank. An auxiliary body (Committee of Permanent Representatives or Coreper) prepares its work and executes entrusted mandates. A secretariat provides material infrastructure.
In the international field, the presidency is represented by the state that exercises it for six months, rotating among member states.
Competencies of the Council:
Legislative Competencies:
It is the main regulatory institution, exercising legislative power jointly with the European Parliament in most cases. It adopts legal acts and treaties, implementing EU policies and promoting their development.
Executive Competencies:
The Council may, in specific cases, exercise direct executive competencies, although normally this faculty is delegated to the Commission.
Competencies in terms of External Relations:
It represents the EU internationally, definitively concluding international agreements on behalf of the Community. It also guarantees the coherence of external action within the framework of the EU’s foreign relations, security, economic, and development policy.
Budgetary Competencies:
It exercises shared decision-making power with the European Parliament regarding the budget.
Coordination Competencies:
It guarantees the coordination of economic policies among member states.
Court of Auditors
The Court of Auditors is a body that monitors the implementation of the Community budget.
Composition:
One national from each member state is appointed by the Council after consulting the European Parliament for a renewable period of six years.
It adopts its own internal workings, including the election and powers of the President, the principle of collegiality, meeting modes, and voting features.
Powers of the Court of Auditors:
Supervisory powers:
- Examines income and expenditure of the Union
- Verifies legality and regularity
- Controls sound financial management
Competence to:
- Submit comments at any time on particular issues
- Issue opinions at the request of other institutions
EU Court of Justice
The Court of Justice is in charge of judicially guaranteeing respect for the law in the interpretation and application of the treaty.
Format:
Currently, there are 27 judges (one per member state) and eight advocate generals, all appointed through a common agreement by the Governments of Member States for a period of six years, chosen among people of absolute independence and prestige. They meet in plenary sessions and chambers (three to five members).
Powers of the Court:
Advisory Skills:
It issues opinions referred to by Community institutions or Member States within the scope of the conclusion of international agreements that the Community celebrates.
Contentious Jurisdiction:
It can resolve disputes between Member States and between these and the Community, among or between these institutions and individuals, based on the judicial acts attributed by treaties.
Ruling Skills:
The Court can decide, at the request of a national court, on the interpretation of treaties or acts adopted by the institutions.
European Council
The European Council is a special intergovernmental summit comprised of the heads of state or government of all EU Member States, along with the President of the Council. It meets twice a year and can convene extraordinary sessions. The Council decides in agreement with the member states and is not established as an essential institution in the integration process.
Function:
It promotes and develops policies that set the guidelines for the EU, arbitrates or unlocks difficult issues, and guarantees the coherence of EU action. It provides the necessary stimulus for development and solves problems that the Council could not resolve. It ensures intergovernmental cooperation and serves as a center of political impetus and guidance for foreign and security policy, as well as police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters.
Consultative Bodies:
Economic and Social Committee of Europe
The Economic and Social Committee is a consultative body composed of representatives of different national socio-economic categories. Chosen by the Council and nominated by Member States after consultation with the committee, its members act with full independence and in the general interest of the Community.
Their task:
Drafting opinions requested by the Commission or the Council, which are mandatory in cases envisaged by the treaties. It may deliver opinions on its own initiative or at the request of the European Parliament.
Committee of Regions
The Committee of Regions is an advisory body based in Nice, composed of 344 local and regional representatives holding an electoral mandate and politically accountable to a democratically elected assembly, with a limit of 350 members. Its members should act with full independence and in the general interest of the Community.
Chosen:
By the Council of Member States. They can propose to rule on their own initiative, and consultation is mandatory when referred to in the Treaty. The Council, Commission, and Parliament can also ask for their opinion if they see fit when it comes to issues affecting cross-border cooperation.