EU Why a European Union ?
Identity and diversity in a
globalised world
Peace and stability
Safety and security
Economic and social solidarity
Values
Bringing Europe together again
EU
Single European
Act 1986 (1987)
Schuman-Plan1950
ECSC1951 (1952)
Treaty of Rome Formation of EEC
+ Euratom1957 (1958)
6 Members States
Treaty of the European
Union (Maastricht)1992 (1993)
Treaty of Amsterdam 1997 (1999)
History
Treaty of Nice
(2000)
EU Enlargement of the UnionFounding Members: Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands
1973: Denmark, Ireland, United Kingdom
1981: Greece1986: Portugal, Spain1995: Austria, Finland,
Sweden2004: Estonia, Latvia,
Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Cyprus
2007: Bulgaria, Rumania
EU The Three Pillars of the EU
EU European Union
Eu
rop
ean
Co
mm
uniti
es
EC
EC
SC
* E
ura
tom
Co
mm
on
For
eig
n a
nd
Se
curi
ty P
olic
y
Po
lice
and
Ju
dic
ial C
oop
era
tion
in C
rim
inal
Ma
tters* The ECSC
Treaty ceased to exist in 2002
EU
Basic Freedoms
The Four Freedoms of the Single Market
Free Movement of Goods
• Prohibition of customs duties between Member States
• Harmonisation and mutual recognition of rules and regulations
• Certain restrictions are still permitted
EU
Basic Freedoms
The Four Freedoms of the Single Market
Free Movement of Persons
• Abolition of border controls• Freedom of residence and employment
(mutual recognition of diplomas) • Under certain conditions EU-citizens
have the right to reside in any other Member State even after the end of their employment
EU
Basic Freedoms
The Four Freedoms of the Single Market
Free Movement of Services
• Free movement of services (e.g.: free choice of phone provider)
• Harmonisation of bank and traffic supervision
• Opening of transport and telecommunications markets
EU
Basic Freedoms
The Four Freedoms of the Single Market
Free Movement of Capital
• More freedom for monetary and capital movements
• Steps towards a common market for financial services (e.g.: no double transfer fees)
• Liberalisation of stock broking (security trading)
EU
History of the Economic and Monetary Union
(EMU)
First stage : Complete liberalisation of capital movement; intensified cooperation of national Central Banks; free application of ECU; improvement of economic convergence.
Second stage: Establishment of the European Monetary Institute; prohibition of Central Bank credits to public bodies; intensified coordination of monetary policy; intensified economic convergence; process leading to theindependence of national Central Banks completed with the creation of the European System of Central Banks; preparatory work for the third stage.
Third stage: Irrevocable fixing of exchange rates; implementation of the Euro; implementation of a single monetary policy under the authority of the ECB; set-up of the exchange rate mechanism (ERM II) within the EU; set-up of the stability and growth pact.
EMU
(1st stage)
1990
EMU
(2nd stage)
1994
EMU
(3rd stage)
1997/1999
Euro-Cash- Implementation
01.01.2002
EU
The Convergence Criteria
The Convergence Criteria
Inflation rate must not exceed that of the 3 best performing Member States of the EU by more than 1.5 percentage points
Applicant States should have joined the exchange-rate mechanism (ERM II) for 2 consecutive years and should not have devaluated their currencies during the 2-year-period.
The nominal long-term interests rate must not be more than 2 percentage points higher than the 3 best performing Member States.
The ratio of the annual government deficit to gross domestic product (GDP) must not exceed 3%.
The ratio of gross government debt to GDP must not exceed 60%.
EUEU legislates
in all areas of Public Policy:
Market Social Policy Environment Agriculture Regional Policy Research and Development Law and Order Citizenship Human Rights International Trade Foreign Policy Defence Consumer affairs Transport Public Health Education and Culture
EUThe EU sets over 80 % of the rules on production, distribution and the exchange of goods, services and capital
About 300 acts of EU legislation every year
Prevails over national law and has direct effect
Powerful indirect effect on the distribution of resources between individuals, groups
and nations in the EU
EU
The Institutionsof the EU
European Council (EC)
European Council (EC)
EuropeanParliament
(EP)
EuropeanParliament
(EP)
Council of the European Union
(Council)
Council of the European Union
(Council)
European Economic and Social Committee
(EESC)
European Economic and Social Committee
(EESC)
European Court of Justice
(ECJ)
European Court of Justice
(ECJ)
European Court of Auditors(ECA)
European Court of Auditors(ECA)
Committee of the Regions
(CoR)
Committee of the Regions
(CoR)
European Investment Bank(EIB)
---------------------------European Investment
Fund(EIF)
European Investment Bank(EIB)
---------------------------European Investment
Fund(EIF)
Decentralised Bodies(e.g.: Europol)
Decentralised Bodies(e.g.: Europol)
European System of Central Banks
(ESCB)----------------------------
European Central Bank(ECB)
European System of Central Banks
(ESCB)----------------------------
European Central Bank(ECB)
European Commission
(EC)
European Commission
(EC)
Advisory Committees Institutions with special status Other bodies
EU
Lobby
Around the European Institutions:
More than 15.000 Lobbyists
Third Country Organisations
12%
Lawyers and Consultants15%
Business16%
European Interest Groups
42%
National Interest Groups
7%
Think Tanks1%
Regions5%
Chamber of Commerce2%
EU
The European Council
The European Council (EC)
European Council
(Summit)
• Sets guidelines and objectives
• Adopts final agreements
• Reforms the Treaties
EU
The European Council
• Consists of the Heads of State and Government together with the President of the European Commission.
• Generally meets four times a year to set the basic political guidelines and to review progress.
• Since it became the supreme political authority of the EU, its meetings have been referred to as « summits ».
European CouncilEuropean Council
EU
The Commission
The European Commission
European Commission
• Has the right of initiative and delegated implementing powers
• Controls the implementation of EU legislation by Member States
• Controls the Member States’ economic policy
EU
The Commission
The Commission consists of:27 Commissioners from 27 Member States (including the President and 5 Vice-Presidents).
Each Commissioner has one vote.
The Commission is a collectivedecision-making body.Therefore minorities are bound by the decisions of the majority. Also in case of a future enlargement the number of commissioners should not exceed27.
The term of office is 5 years.
EU
The Election of the
Commissioners
Heads of Stateand Government
Appoint with qualifiedmajority
Commission President
Needsapproval by
EP
Member States
Propose Commissioners
Heads of Stateand Government
CommissionPresident
+AppointCommissioners
Need approval by
EP
Commission takes up its work.
EU
The Directorate Generals of the
Commission
The European Commission
27 Members of the Commission
Cabinets
Directorate Generals and Services
EU
The Directorate Generals of the
Commission
European Commission
EC College
José Manuel BARROSO (P) - President Margot WALLSTRÖM (S) - Institutional Relations & Communication Strategy, VPGünter VERHEUGEN (D) - Enterprise & Industry, VPJacques BARROT (F) – Justice, Freedom and Security, VPSiim KALLAS (EST) - Administrative Affairs, Audit & Anti-Fraud, VPAntonio TAJANI (I) - Transport, VPViviane REDING (L) - Information Society & Media Stavros DIMAS (GR) - Environment Joaquìn ALMUNIA (E) - Economic & Monetary Affairs Danuta HÜBNER (PL) - Regional Policy Joe BORG (MAL) - Fisheries and Maritime Affairs Dalia GRYBAUSKAITE (LIT) - Financial Programming and Budget Janez POTOČNIK (SLV)- Science & ResearchMeglena KUNEVA (BUL) – Consumer protection
EU
The Directorate Generals of the
Commission
European Commission
EC College
Ján FIGEL (SLK) - Education, Training, Culture, & YouthAndroula VASSILIOU (CYP) - HealthOlli REHN (FI)- Enlargement Louis MICHEL (B) - Development & Humanitarian Aid László KOVÁCS (HU) - Taxation & Customs Union Neelie KROES (NL) - CompetitionMariann FISCHER BOEL (DK) - Agriculture & Rural Development Benita FERRERO-WALDNER (AU) - External Relations & European Neighbourhood Policy Charlie McCREEVY (IRE) - Internal Market & Services Vladimir SPIDLA (CZ) - Employment, Social Affairs & Equal Opportunities Catherine ASHTON (UK) - Trade Andris PIEBALGS (LAT) – EnergyLeonard ORBAN (RO) – Multilingualism
UE
The Directorate Generals of the
Commission
Policy Areas External Relations General Services
Internal Services
Employment and Social Affairs
Justice and Security
Humanitarian Aid Publications Office Interpretation
Education and Culture
Agriculture External Relations Europ. Anti-fraud Office
Budget
Single Market Regional Policy Development Eurostat Informatics
Transport and Energy
Taxation and Customs Union
Enlargement Secretariat General Internal Audit Service
Fisheries Environment EuropeAid –
Co-operation Office
Communication Legal Service
Research Enterprises and Industry
Trade Personnel and Administration
Health and Consumer Protection
Competition Bureau of European Policy
Advisers
Joint Research Centre
Economic and Financial
Affairs
Translation
Information Society and Media
Directorate Generals of the Commission
EU
The European Parliament
The European Parliament
European Parliament
• Represents the citizens
• Has general legislative power
EUThe European Parliament
EP President
Committees permanent and ad hoc
Secretariat
Political Parties
Secretariat
National Delegations
MEPs
Info and contacts
EU
Competences of the European
Parliament
Budget Control of the Executive
Legislation
• Hearing• Co-decision• Consultation• Assent
785 MEPs
The European Parliament has three basic powers and functions:
The European Parliament
EU
Votes in the European Parliament
Votes in the European Parliament785 MEPs directly elected by EU citizens in June 2004 :
Germany 99UK 78Italy 78France 78Spain 54Poland 54Romania 35Netherlands 27Portugal 24Belgium 24Greece 24Czech Rep. 24Hungary 24Sweden 19Austria 18Bulgaria 18Finland 14Denmark 14Slovakia 14Ireland 13 Lithuania 13Latvia 9Slovenia 7Luxemburg 6Estonia 6Cyprus 6Malta 5
Political parties:
Conservatives 278
Socialists 218
Liberals 104
Greens 42
United left 40
Others 102
EU
The Parliamentary Committees
AFET: Foreign Affairs DEVE: Development INTA: International Trade BUDG: Budget CONT: Budgetary Control ECON: Economic and Monetary Affairs EMPL: Employment and Social Affairs ENVI: Environment, Public Health and Food Safety ITRE: Industry, Research and Energy IMCO: Internal Market and Consumer Protection TRAN: Transport and Tourism REGI: Regional Development AGRI: Agriculture and Rural Development PECH: Fisheries CULT: Culture and Education JURI: Legal Affairs LIBE: Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs AFCO: Constitutional Affairs FEMM: Women's Rights and Gender Equality PETI: Petitions DROI: Human Rights SEDE: Security and Defense CLIM: Climate Change
The Parliamentary Committees
EU
The Council of the European
Union
The Council of the European UnionThe Council of the European Union
The Council of the EU
• Represents the Member States
• Has general legislative power
• Sets the political agenda together with the Commission
Info and contacts
EU
The Council of the European Union
Council of Ministers
National Ministers meet in 9 configurations
Council General Secretary + High representative for
Common Foreign and Security Policy
European Council/Summit
Heads of State & Government
Presidency of the Council
6 month termCOREPER I
Technical
Deputy Permanent
Representatives
COREPER II
Political
Permanent Representatives
Permanent Representations to
the EUMertens
Group
Antici
Group
Working Groups
Diplomats and Experts
EU
Pondérationdes voix
au sein du Conseil
Belgium [12]
Denmark [7]
Germany [29]
Estonia [4]
Finland [7]
France [29]
Greece [12]
United Kingdom [29]
Ireland [7]
Italy [29] Latvia [4] Lithuania [7]
Luxembourg [4]
Malta [3]
Netherlands [13]
Austria [10]
Poland [27]
Portugal [12]
Sweden [10]
Slovakia [7]
Slovenia [4]
Spain[27]
Czech Rep.[12]
Hungary[12]
Cyprus[4]
Council of the European Union
• The Council is the main decision-making body of the European Union.
• Every country is represented by the minister responsible for the policy area being discussed (Foreign Affairs, Finances, Social issues, Traffic, Agriculture, etc.)
• The presidency rotates between the Member States every 6 months.
255 of 345 (72,3%) are necessary for a qualified majority Additionally the majority of
the Member States needs to approve the proposal
A Member State can request a verification that the countries supporting the proposal represent at least 62% of the total EU population
Bulgaria[10]
Romania [14]
EU
The Committee of the Regions
and the Economic and
Social Committee
The Committee of the Regionsand the
Economic and Social Committee
Committee of the Regions and Economic and Social
Committee
• Consultative bodies
• Compulsory consultation for certain areas
EU
European Economic and
Social Committee and
Committee of the Regions
Consultative or Advisory Bodies
European Economic and Social Committee (EESC)Represents the “organized civil society”: employers, trade unions, farmers, consumers and the other interest groups
Committee of the Regions (CoR)Is the political assembly that provides local and regional authorities with a voice at the heart of the European Union
Compulsory consultation before EU decisions are taken on matters which concern local and regional government, such as regional policy, the environment, education and transport
But its opinion does not have to be taken on board
EU
The Committee of the Regions
The Committee of the Regions
CoR President
CoR Secretary General
Commissions
Secretariat
Political Parties
Secretariat
National DelegationsElected
Members
Info and contacts
Bureau
EU
The European Court of Justice and the
Court of First Instance
• The ECJ is made up of one judge per Member State and 8 Advocates General
• The ECJ may sit in chambers of 3, 5 or 13 judges, and in very exceptional cases as a full Court.
• The Judges and Advocates General are nominated by the Member States by mutual agreement for a period of six years.
• The Court of First Instance was established in 1989 and corresponds approximately to the ECJ, but does not have permanent Advocates General
• The Courts preserve the community right when treaties are being interpreted and implemented.
The European Court of Justice (ECJ) and the Court of First Instance
EU
• Regions and Cities: AER, CEMR, CPMR, Eurocities, and other specialised organisations like EPRO (environment), ERRIN (research & innovation), ISLENET (energy and environment), POLIS (transport), REGLEG (legislative competences), etc.
• Business and Industries: UEAPME (Craft and SMEs), UNICE (industrial and employers’ confederations) and many others in different sectors
• European networks & associations in different sectors
• NGOs
… and a long etc.
Other European Interests - Lobby Groups -
EU
• Involves various European institutions, in particular– The European Commission (EC),– The European Parliament (EP),– The Council of the European Union
• In general the Commission makes new legislation proposals, but Council and Parliament pass the laws. Other institutions and bodies also have roles to play (e.g. Committee of the Regions)
Decision-making at EU Level
EU
• Primary Legislation (Treaties)• Secondary Legislation
Legal Sources of Community
Law
Legal Sources of Community Law
Institutional Acts of the EU
• Regulations• Directives• Decisions• Recommendations and Opinions
EU
RegulationLegal Sources of Community
LawDirectly applicable in all Member States
Of “general application”
Binding in its entirety
EU
DirectiveLegal Sources of Community
Law
Binding, as to result to be achieved!
Binding in its principle
EU
DecisionLegal Sources of Community
Law
Shall be binding in its entirety upon those to whom it is addressed
EU
Recommendation and opinionLegal Sources of Community
Law
Do NOT formally constitute part of EU Law
Have no binding force
EU Implementing Acts into national legislation
Legal Sources of Community
Law
• Directives must be transposed in National legal systems, however, the Member States can decide how Second phase for regions to lobby
• Regulations are directly applicable in national law
• The Commission monitors the implementation by Member States; it can take Member States to the European Court of Justice for a breach of their implementation obligations in case of failure to comply
EU Three Main
EU Decision-Making Procedures
Co-decision Consultation Assent
Requires two readings by the Parliament and the Council, if the two cannot agree they enter into conciliation
The Parliament’s opinion is incorporated into the Commission proposal. If the Council decides to reject the proposal, this requires unanimity
The Council must obtain the European Parliament's assent before taking certain important decisions. The Parliament can approve or reject a proposal but not amend it
EU Consultation
EC proposal
accepts
Council
Examines the amendments
app
roves
EP
CoR
EESC
Approves Rejects Amends
EU Consultation
Areas subject to consultation:
• Police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters• Revision of the Treaties• Discrimination based on gender, race or ethnic origin, religion, political beliefs, handicap, age or sexual orientation• European citizenship• Agriculture• Cohesion Policy: ERDF and ESF Regulations• Legal immigration and free movement of people-connected• Transport (when it may have a significant influence in certain regions)• Competition law• Tax provisions• Economic policy
EU Assent
EC CouncilEP’s Assent
Approves Rejects Amends
Approval requires the absolute majority of the vote cast!
EU
Areas subject to assent:
• Specific tasks of the European Central Bank• Amendments to the statutes of the European System of Central Banks or the European Central Bank• Financial Perspectives• European Parliament’s uniform election procedure• Certain international agreements• Accession of new Member States• Sanctions imposed on a Member State for a serious and persistent breach of fundamental rights under Article 7 of the EU Treaty
EU Co-Decision• The most frequently used procedure – under the Constitutional Treaty this would be the standard procedure
• Council and Parliament on equal footing – they share the legislative power equally. Both Institutions carry out up to three readings
• If Council and Parliament cannot agree on a piece of proposed legislation, it is put before a conciliation committee
• The Conciliation Committee consists in equal shares of representatives from the Council and the Parliament
• Once the Committee has reached an agreement, the text is sent back to Parliament and Council for its final adoption as law
EU Proposal from EC to EP and the Council
First reading in the EP: adopts an opinion with or without amendments
First reading in the Council: either,
Adopts the text approved by the EP, with QMV Does NOT adopt the
text and adopts a COMMON POSITION
with QMVADOPTED
EUSecond reading in the EP
Approves the
common position
Does not take any decision
Rejects the common
position by absolute majority
Proposes amendments
to the common position by
absolute majority
ADOPTED ADOPTED NOT-ADOPTED
EC delivers opinion on
amendments
EU
The legal system
Second Reading in the Council
The Council accepts EP Amendments
The Council does NOT accept EP Amendments
ADOPTED The Council convenes, in agreement with
the EP President, the CONCILIATION COMMITEE
EU
The legal system
The Conciliation Committee can:
Fail to agree on a joint text
Approve a joint text and submit it to Council and EP
NOT ADOPTED
They agree within max.
6 weeks
They fail to agreewithin max.
6 weeks
ADOPTED NOT ADOPTED
EU
The legal systemPrevention of discrimination on the
grounds of nationalityFreedom of movement and
residencyFree movement of labourSocial security of migrant labourFreedom of establishmentTransportInternal marketEmploymentCustoms cooperationCombating social exclusionEqual opportunity and treatmentEducationVocational training
Implementation of decisions relating to ESF
General Regulation for Cohesion Policy
CultureHealthConsumer protectionTrans-European networksExecution of European Regional
Development Fund decisionsResearchEnvironmentPrevention and prosecution of fraud Visas, asylum and illegal immigration
(1 April 2005 at the latest)
Policy areas subject to co-decision: