INSTITUTIONS

of the
European Union
EXECUTIVE power:
European COMMISSION

LEGISLATIVE power (SHARED by):

COUNCIL and PARLIAMENT

JUDICIAL power:
European COURT OF JUSTICE
COMMISSION 3 implements

2 approves 1 proposes

PARLIAMENT and COUNCIL

EUROPEAN COURT OF JUSTICE monitors

Three key players

The European Parliament

- voice of the people
David Sassoli, President of the European
Parliament

The European Council and the Council

- voice of the Member States
Charles Michel, President of the European
Council

The European Commission

- promoting the common interest
Ursula von der Leyen,
President of the European Commission
 What POWERS?

 WHO? Appointed by WHOM?

 DECISION making rules?

 WHERE?
EUROPEAN
COMMISSION
EXECUTIVE BRANCH OF
THE E.U.
 COMISIÓN EUROPEA
EL ÓRGANO EJECUTIVO DE LA UE

Von der Leyen´s Commission (2019-2024)

COMISIÓN EUROPEA
EL ÓRGANO EJECUTIVO DE LA UE
 27 COMMISSIONERS, one from each EU
member. Appointed every 5 years (after
elections to Parliament):
- PERSONS chosen by their own national
governments.
- European Council (of top national leaders)
nominates PRESIDENT OF THE COMMISSION
(“taking into account the election results”) and
European Parliament ratifies.
- President of the Commission ASSIGNS specific
PORTFOLIOS to the commissioners.
- PARLIAMENT approves COLLEGE of
COMISSIONERS as a whole, after hearings.
The Commission employs around 25.000
officials (FEW), divided in DGs
(“Directorates-General”). They provide the
technical expertise.

presidente

Secretaría
General

comisarios

Directores
Generales
DECISION MAKING?
 Weekly meetings.

 1 Commissioner = 1 VOTE. Not acting as

national representatives.

 In principle simple majority (14 votes), but in

practice usually on the basis of CONSENSUS
(because has to get its proposals approved
afterwards by both Council and Parliament, tries
not to be divisive).

 Location: BRUSSELS (Belgium)

The European Commission – promoting the common interest

27 Commissioners, one from each EU

country
• Proposes new legislation
• Executive organ
• Guardian of the treaties
• Represents the EU on the international stage
EUROPEAN COMMISSION:
 MAIN POWERS

1. To PROPOSE legislation to the Parliament and

Council = Monopoly on the RIGHT TO INITIATE
(the “driving force”, eg. Delors).

2. To IMPLEMENT (execute) EU policies (once

accepted by Parliament and Council).
 COMISIÓN EUROPEA
EL ÓRGANO EJECUTIVO DE LA UE

Guardian of the Treaties

Infraction procedures against EU-28 countries

Datos superiores: Nº total de infracciones

Infracciones por una incorrecta transposición y/o por la mala aplicación de la legislación de la UE
Infracciones por transposición tardía
 COMISIÓN EUROPEA
EL ÓRGANO EJECUTIVO DE LA UE

Guardian of the Treaties: firms

Fiat
Ayuda estatal ilegal
(octubre de 2015)
Google
Procedimiento de
defensa de la
competencia
(abril de 2016)

Apple

Ayuda estatal ilegal

(agosto de 2016)
 COMISIÓN EUROPEA
EL ÓRGANO EJECUTIVO DE LA UE

Represents EU on international stage:

Cooperación Política de Política

Acuerdos vecindad y
para el Exterior y de
internacionales
desarrollo y Negociaciones de Seguridad
ayuda ampliación Común
humanitaria
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN
UNION or “Council of Ministers”:
 SHARES LEGISLATIVE POWER with the
European Parliament.

1. Pass European laws, JOINTLY with Parliament.

2. Aprove the EU´s common budget (it is one of

those laws) JOINTLY with Parliament.
 1 MINISTER FROM EACH COUNTRY, the one
responsible for the relevant area under discussion
in the meeting (eg. agriculture, education…).

 Meetings in BRUSSELS.

 Different CONFIGURATIONS according to the

matters at hand:
 Foreign affairs
 ECONOMIC and FINANCIAL AFFAIRS (ECOFIN,
or EUROGROUP if only countries of the
eurozone)
 Justice
 Agriculture
 Education…
- One EU member State holds the
PRESIDENCY, rotating every 6 months
alphabetically. Now Slovenia. Symbolic.

- DIFFERENT VOTING POWER, because

ministers representing their COUNTRIES (of
different economic size and population), their
GOVERNMENTS.

- Decisions normally by QUALIFIED

MAJORITY VOTING, strong majority, to
defend national interests (blocking). But
previously it was by unanimity.
Council of Ministers – voice of the Member States

• One minister from each EU country

• Presidency: rotates every six months
• Decides EU laws and budget together with Parliament
Council of Ministers – QUALIFIED MAJORITY

Most decisions in the Council are taken by

‘DOUBLE MAJORITY’.

A decision must have the support of at least:

• 55 % of MEMBER STATES (at least 15

countries)

AND

• Member States that represent 65 % of

the EU’s POPULATION (almost 2/3)
The EUROPEAN COUNCIL:
 Meetings of the EU´s top NATIONAL LEADERS
+ a permanent President (2.5 year term, Charles
Michel).
 Highest political level: provides STRATEGIC
GUIDANCE, FINAL COMPROMISES to solve
disagreements.
 INSTITUTION only since 2009 (Treaty of Lisbon,
informal before). NO ROLE IN LAW-MAKING.
To translate their decisions into law, neccesary
to follow the LEGISLATIVE PROCEDURE:
Commission proposes, Council of ministers and
Parliament approve.
Summit at the European Council

Summit of heads of state and government of all EU countries

HELD AT LEAST 4 TIMES A YEAR

The EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT:
 SHARES LEGISLATIVE POWER with the
Council of the EU (“of ministers”).

1. Approves European LEGISLATION, with

the Council of the EU (“of ministers”).
2. Approves the common BUDGET, with the
Council of the EU (“of ministers”).
3. Exercises democratic CONTROL of the
Commission.
MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT FROM THE 27
COUNTRIES.

DIRECTLY ELECTED EVERY 5 YEARS (last time in

May 2019).

NUMBER of members per nation VARIES WITH

POPULATION (but number of MEPs per population
higher for small nations). Eg. Luxembourg 6, Germany
96; Germany´s population 160 times that of
Luxembourg. NOT completely PROPORTIONAL.

Organized in European GROUPS along IDEOLOGICAL

lines, not by nationality.
The European political parties
 How parliamentary work is organized?
1. Parliamentary COMMITTEES.
2. PLENARY SESSIONS.

DECISION MAKING on the basis of a SIMPLE

MAJORITY (half plus one of the votes).

 Located in STRASBOURG (France). Also has

offices in Brussels, where the various
Parliamentary committees meet.
LEGISLATIVE PROCEDURE:

 Main procedure: CODECISION.

 Same weight to Council and Parliament.
BOTH have to approve a measure (the
Council using a QUALIFIED majority and
Parliament a SIMPLE majority).
 If desagreement, 2nd reading and
Conciliation Committee to look for a
compromise.
ANNUAL BUDGETARY PROCEDURE:
 COMMISSION initiates,
elaborates first proposal,
preliminary draft budget.
 1st reading in COUNCIL
(qualified majority) and
PARLIAMENT (simple
majority). If different
amendments:
 CONCILIATION
COMMITTEE to seek
compromise.
 2nd reading in COUNCIL
and PARLIAMENT.
 If no new budget, the
previous one can be
EXTENDED (1/12 per
month).
MULTIANNUAL FINANCIAL FRAMEWORK :
 “Financial Perspectives”. Medium-term
guide (7 years, 2021-27 now).
 Approved UNANIMOUSLY by
EUROPEAN COUNCIL (and by
Parliament without amendments).
 BROAD SPENDING GUIDELINES:
maximun total expenditure each year and
how to divide it between main categories.
 ANNUAL BUDGETS must be compatible
with this guidance, but MORE DETAILED.
NGEU different, extraordinary, only
to recover from COVID crisis