1. DG ELARG/TAIEX – P2P Study tours: “Combating poverty in Europe” Panos GREDIS Former DG ELARG/TAIEX European Commission Brussels, 19-22 Oct 2009 The EU Institutional structure and the decision-making process

2. Luca Prete (EC Commission) O U T L I N E A brief history of European integration The EU Institutions and its decision making procedures The Single European Market The Euro (€) A citizen's Europe QQ and AA

3. Luca Prete (EC Commission) A brief history of European integration After world war II 9 May 1950: the Schuman declaration 1951/1952, the Treaty of Paris: the European Coal and Steel Community (the ECSC) 1957/1958, the Treaties of Rome: The European Economic Community (the EEC) and the the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or 'Euratom').

4. Luca Prete (EC Commission) The EEC originally Completion of the common market through different phases Common market rules + additional policies (customs union, common agricultural policy, common fisheries policy, trade policy, State aids control, competition law, etc.) The s.c. “neofunctionalism” of the founding fathers

5. Luca Prete (EC Commission) 1987, Single European Act New legal bases (art. 100A) to achieve completion of the common market. New legislative procedures (ex. cooperation). New competences (ex. environment, social policy, cooperation in economic and monetary matters, economic and social cohesion, research and technological development). Court of First Instance provided to assist the ECJ. More power to the EP. QMV replaced unanimity in many areas. Creation of the European Political Cooperation. 1993, Treaty of Maastricht The EEC becomes the EC. Creation of the European Union (EU)  3 pillar structure: Community pillar (EC + ESCSC + Euratom) / CFSP / JHA Institution of a Citizenship of the Union. Creation of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). New competences to the EC. Increased powers of the EP (ex. veto power of appointment of the Commission, right to ask Commission to present legislation). Extension of QMV. New procedures (ex. codecision). European Council institutionalised. Creation of the Ombudsman. Principle of ‘subsidiarity’ formalised. Committee of the Region established. The evolution of the Treaties

6. Luca Prete (EC Commission) 1999, Treaty of Amsterdam Part of the second pillar was “communitarised”. New competences (ex. ‘area of freedom, security and justice’). Provisions on free movement of persons. Provisions on foundations of the Union and respect for fundamental rights (Art. 6 and 7). Provision on the conditions for application to the EU (Art. 49). Provisions on ‘closer co-operation’. 2003, Treaty of Nice New institutional framework (votes in the Council, distribution of seats in the EP, composition of the Commission). Extension of codecision procedure and QMV. Reform of the judicial system. Modification of art. 7 TEU. Enhanced (previously closer) co-operation reformed and made possible also in the II pillar. The Constitution Treaty of Lisbon (fall 2009? )

7. Luca Prete (EC Commission) The Treaty of Lisbon The pillars structure and the distinction between EC and EU disappears. The European Union (EU) will be the only political entity. Based on 2 treaties: Treaty on the European Union (TEU) and Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU). More democracy and transparency: strengthened role for the European Parliament and national parliaments, more opportunities for citizens to have their voices heard. Distinction of competences between the EU and Member States and a clearer sense of who does what at European and national level. Simplified working methods and voting rules, streamlined and reformed institutions. Improved ability to act in areas of major priority for today's EU (e.g. foreign policy, areas of freedom, security and justice, climate change, energy). Makes binding the freedoms and principles set out in the Charter of Fundamental Rights. A new High Representative for the Union in Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, also Vice-President of the Commission, will increase the impact, the coherence and the visibility of the EU's external action. He will be supported by the creation of a new European External Action Service

8. Luca Prete (EC Commission) Original members: BEL, DE, FR, IT, LUX, NL (6) 1973: DK, IRL, UK (9) 1981: GRE (10) 1986: SPA, PORT (12) 1995: AUT, FIN, SWE (15) 2004: CYP, CZE, EST, HUN, LAT, LIT, MAL, POL, SLN, SLK, (25) 2007: BUL, ROM (27) Future: CRO, TKY ? FYROM ? Other States of the Balkans (?) The enlargements

9. Luca Prete (EC Commission) Accession criteria and procedures The accession criteria (or Copenhagen criteria), are the essential conditions all candidate countries must satisfy to become a Member State. They were set at the Copenhagen European Council in 1993 and at the Madrid European Council in 1995 and comprise: political criteria: stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of minorities; economic criteria: a functioning market economy and the capacity to cope with competition and market forces; the capacity to take on the obligations of membership, including adherence to political, economic and monetary objectives; creation of the conditions for integration through the adjustment of administrative and institutional structures guaranteeing effective implementation of the acquis See also Articles 6 and 49 EU Treaty

10. Luca Prete (EC Commission) Current structure of the European Union 1st pillar European Community (EC) Euratom (EAEC) [European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) exp.] Community method 2nd pillar Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) Intergovernamental cooperation method 3rd pillar Police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters Intergovernamental cooperation method Common provisions Provisions on enhanced cooperation Final provisions

11. Luca Prete (EC Commission) The EU Institutions and its decision making procedures European Parliament (EP) Elected every 5 by the people by direct universal suffrage (since 1979) Main tasks: co-legislator, approval of EU budget (jointly with the Council) (Currently) has 785 members from all 27 EU countries Members of the EP (MEPs) do not sit in national blocks, but in 7 Europe-wide political groups Seats in Strasbourg and Brussels Role and powers have evolved and increased over time

12. Luca Prete (EC Commission) Council of the European Union Consists of ministers from the national governments of all the EU countries. Meetings are attended by whichever ministers are responsible for the items to be discussed Main tasks: responsibility for passing laws (with the EP) and taking policy decisions. Decision-making in the CFSP Decides by unanimity (rare), qualified-majority voting (QMV, most common), or simple majority (rare) Meets mostly in Brussels

13. Luca Prete (EC Commission) European Commission The President and members (currently 27) are appointed for a period of 5 years by EU governments and endorsed by the EP It is a supranational and independent body. The Commissioners do not represent their countries of origin Main tasks: drafting proposals for new EC legislation, manages the implementation of EU policies the EU funds. It is the “Guardian of the Treaty” vis-à-vis Member States (e.g. bringing them before the ECJ) and individuals or companies (e.g. decisions in the field of antitrust and State aids) Headquarters: Brussels

14. Luca Prete (EC Commission) Court of Justice (ECJ) Composed by 3 courts: the Court of Justice of the EC (ECJ), the Court of First Instance of the EC ( since 1988 ; CFI) and the EU Civil Service Tribunal ( since 2005 ; CST) It must ensure that in the interpretation and application of this Treaty the law is observed. This means, making sure that EU law is interpreted and applied in the same way in all EU countries, thereby ensuring that the law is equal for everyone; and making sure that EU Member States and institutions act lawfully Based in Luxembourg

15. Luca Prete (EC Commission) “The Community method” Legislation: the codecision procedure Right of initiative: Commission Co-legislators: Council and European Parliament (on equal footing) Execution of the acts: Commission (usually powers delegated from the Council which may retain some limited control powers)

16. Luca Prete (EC Commission) The single European market The EU Free movement of goods + free movement of services + freedom of establishment + free movement of capitals + free movement of workers Customs union (common customs tariffs + single trade policy) Economic and Monetary policy (coordination of economic policies + single currency) Free movement of persons

17. Luca Prete (EC Commission) The EURO (€) The euro (€), EU’s single currency is currently shared by 16 countries, representing ca. two thirds of the overall EU population. Other countries will follow once their economies are ready. All euro notes and coins can be used in the countries where the euro is accepted. Each note is the same, while the coins have a common design on one side and a national emblem of their country of origin on the other side.

18. Luca Prete (EC Commission) A citizen’s Europe Citizenship of the Union: every person holding the nationality of a Member State shall be a citizen of the Union. Citizenship of the Union complements and does not replace national citizenship They enjoy the rights conferred, and are subject to the duties imposed, by the EC Treaty. E.g.: Right to travel, work and live anywhere in the EU Right to elect Members of the EP and right to stand as candidate in the elections of the EP Can submit complaints about EC maladministration to the Ombudsman Can send petitions to the EP Can write to any EC institution and receive an answer in his/her own language

19. Luca Prete (EC Commission) « Nous ne coalisons pas des États, nous unissons des hommes » (We are not forming coalitions of States, we are uniting people) (Jean Monnet, 1952)

20. Luca Prete (EC Commission) THANK YOU VERY MUCH Panos GREDIS Representative of European Public Law Organization (EPLO) in Brussels E-mail: pgredis@eplo.eupgredis@eplo.eu Web site: www.eplo.eu