Webster University in Tashkent

Contemporary Europe: 1945-Present

Prof. Mladen Mrdalj
Week 6, Spring 2022
How the European Union Works?
Core Institutions
European Council - presidents and prime ministers – top people of member
countries
Electing European Commission
Decision-making in European Commission
 Council of ministers (“Council of the EU”)

Ten “configurations”, meeting of member

countries’ ministers responsible for specific
fields:

• General Affairs;
• Foreign Affairs;
• Economic and Financial Affairs;
• Justice and Home Affairs;
• Employment, Social Policy, Health and
Consumer Affairs;
• Competitiveness (Internal Market, Industry,
Research and Space);
• Transport, Telecommunications and
Energy;
• Agriculture and Fisheries;
• Environment;
• Education, Youth, Culture and Sport.

The European Council, acting by a qualified majority, with the agreement of the
President of the Commission, shall appoint the High Representative of the Union for
Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. The European Council may end his term of office
by the same procedure.
Voting in Council of Ministers
 Decisions in CFSP

HR/VP: The High Representative

of the Union for Foreign Affairs
and Security Policy

In certain areas, states can constructively abstain, which means states are not obliged to apply decisions
taken, but will allow the decision to be adopted. However, if one third of member states comprising at
least one third of the population decide to constructively abstain, the decision will not be passed.

Constructive abstention:

— When adopting a decision defining a Union action or position on the basis of a decision of the European
Council relating to the Union's strategic interests and objectives, as referred to in Article 22(1)
— when adopting a decision defining a Union action or position, on a proposal which the High
Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy has presented following a specific
request from the European Council, made on its own initiative or that of the High Representative
— when adopting any decision implementing a decision defining a Union action or position,
— when appointing a special representative in accordance with Article 33.
* This shall not apply to decisions having military or defence implications
 The EU legislative process

Step by step: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/infographic/legislative-procedure/index_en.html