1. The EU & Legislation

2. The European Parliament The Commission Initiates legislation
Recommends Bills
The European Parliament
The Commission
Initiates legislation
liaise
Initiates legislation
Draft Bill
The Council of the European Union (Ministers)
Implemented by
Supports
Committee of Permanent Representatives
The Commission

3. The Commission The Civil Service of the EU (unelected)
Headed by the College of Commissioners (28): appointed by member states, including President: Jean Claude Junker (Belgium), Term 5 years, renewable; UK Commissioner: Lord Hill (Financial Services)
Initiates legislation
Advises the European Parliament on legislation
Implements legislation
Upholds the EU constitution and laws
Manages the EU budget
Comprises 33 Directorates General (departments), employing 33,000 administrators (cf 400,000 in the UK civil service)

4. The EU Parliament
Legislates (eg cleaner beaches and roaming charges on mobile phones)
751 directly elected MEPs (73 for UK)
Can amend/pass/veto Bills (part of the ordinary legislative procedure with the Council of the EU)
Reports on proposals for Bills to the Commission
Scrutinises the Commission (Select Committees do this)
Ratifies treaties
Ratifies EU enlargement
Can censure (remove) the College of Commissioners as a whole
Adopts the EU budget (together with the Council of the European Union)
President: Martin Schultz; term 2.5 years, Germany.

5. The Council of the European Union (or Council of Ministers)
Made up of relevant ministers from the 28 member states
Meets in ‘specialist formations’
Helps to draft legislation
Can amend/pass/veto legislation (part of the ordinary legislative procedure with the EU Parliament)
‘Virtual’ second chamber
Liaises with the EU Parliament; supported by COREPER
Coordinates EU policy
Concludes international agreements
Adopts the EU budget (together with the EU parliament)

6. The Committee of Permanent Representatives (COREPER)
Supports the Council of Ministers
A permanent secretariat
Liaises with the European Parliament

7. The European Council
Brings together the heads of state of the member countries (Cameron, Merkel, Hollande, etc)
President Donald Tusk (Poland); Term: 2.5 years (renewable once)
Decides on the EU's overall direction and political priorities
Deals with complex or sensitive issues that cannot be resolved at lower levels of intergovernmental cooperation
Determines EU foreign and security policy
Nominates and appoints Commissioners

8. The European Court of Justice
Interprets EU law
Can be used by individuals to act against EU institutions if rights infringed
Can annul EU Acts which infringe rights
Can fine for infringement of EU law