1. Unit 25 Institutions of the European Union
Consult the page

2. The main EU institutions
Connect the English and Crotian names of institutions.
The European Parliament
The European Council
The European Commission
The Council of the European Union (Council of Ministers)
Europska komisija
Europski parlament
Europsko vijeće
Vijeće Europske unije / Vijeće ministara

3. Other EU institutions
Connect the English and Crotian names of institutions.
The Court of Justice of the European Union
The European Court of Auditors
The Economic and Social Committe
The Committee of the Regions
European Central Bank
The European Investment Bank
European Ombudsman
Sud pravde Europske unije
Odbor regija
Gospodarski i socijalni odbor
Europska središnja banka
Europska investicijska banka
Europski pučki pravobranitelj
Europski revizijski sud

4. The European Council ≠ the Council of the EU the Council of Europe!!!!!!
consists of heads of state who have been meeting twice a year (at the end of every presidency meeting) under the name, the European Council, since 1974
they discuss informally EU policy, political strategies
can give a new impetus, when there is a deadlock at the level of the Council of the EU
the post of the President of the European Council after the LISABON treaty
a) chairs the summit meetings
b) represents the EU in external affairs

5. The European Parliament
The main function – LEGISLATION, however shares
the legislative function with the Council of the EU (codecision)
- elected by universal suffrage since 1979
- 750 members
Budgetary power – approves the budget of the EU and proposes amendments
Decides on international agreements, enlargements (accession of new member states)
Can cause the Commission to resign, checks the credentials of proposed candidates for positions within the Commission

6. The Council of the EU (the Council of Ministers)
composed of ministers from member states, from the relevant government department
Meets in 10 different configurations (e.g. Ecofin Council = subject matter – economy and financial issues)
Presidency which rotates every 6 months,
Committee of Permanent Representatives (COREPER), ambassadors of each member state in Brussels, prepare the meetings of the Council, keep the ministers informed of any political problems,
IMPORTANT LEGISLATIVE FUNCTION (shared with the Parliament) – changes after the Lisabon treaty (which came into force December 2009)

7. The legislative power of the European Parliament increases, as the codecision procedure with the Council of the EU is extended to new areas of policy. This procedure is slightly modified and renamed Ordinary legislative procedure.

8. The European Commission
- often described as the Executive of the EU
consists of 28 Commissioners (one from each Member State, appointed by their national governments, however, they dont represent their states, but work under a principle of collective responsibility)
tasks: initiates laws, allocates EU funds, draws up the budget, controls expenditure, ensures proper application of EU law
the President of the Commission is chosen by the Heads of State of all of the member states and must be approved by the Parliament
has a huge staff ( civil servents), different departments, different areas of policy: e.g. environment, single market, etc.

9. The Court of Justice of the European Union

10. Structure of the CJEU CJEU Court of Justice General Court
- appeals against
General Courts’ judgments and references for a preliminary ruling
General Court
- complaints brought by individuals
- 46 judges in office as of October 4, 2017
Civil Service Tribunal
- considers labor disputes raised by EU civil servants against EU institutions. Until 2016

11. The Court of Justice the judicial branch of the EU
ensures that treaties as well as laws and decisions made thereunder are applied within the Institutions and in the Member States
made up of 28 Judges and 11 Advocates General (hold office for a renewable term of 6 years)
- sits as a full court (case is of exceptional importance), in a Grand Chamber of 15 Judges (when a Member State or an institution which is a party to the proceedings so requests, and in particularly complex or important cases) or in Chambers of three or five Judges.

12. The tasks of the Court of Justice
to ensure the integration of the EU law into the legal systems of the Member states
to take part in developing EU law
to decide about issues concerning the division of power between the States and the EU,
to decide in cases between EU institutions and Member States
to decide on a wide ragne of issues between parties which have been referred from a national court = reference for a preliminary ruling

13. TYPES OF CASES FIVE most common types of cases are:
requests for a preliminary ruling – when national courts ask the Court of Justice to interpret a point of EU law
actions for failure to fulfil an obligation – brought against EU governments for not applying EU law
actions for annulment – against EU laws thought to violate the EU treaties or fundamental rights
actions for failure to act – against EU institutions for failing to make decisions required of them
direct actions – brought by individuals, companies or organisations against EU decisions or actions

14. References for preliminary rulings
The Court of Justice cooperates with all the courts of the Member States
to ensure the effective and uniform application of EU legislation and
to prevent divergent interpretations, the national courts may, and sometimes must, refer to the Court of Justice and ask it to clarify a point concerning the interpretation of EU law
so that they may ascertain whether their national legislation complies with that law.

15. * = zahtjev za prethodnu odluku / mišljenje
The Court of Justice’s reply is not merely an opinion, but takes the form of a judgment or reasoned order. The national court to which it is addressed is, in deciding the dispute before it, bound by the interpretation given.
The Court of Justice’s judgment likewise binds other national courts before which the same problem is raised.
It is through references for preliminary rulings* that any European citizen can seek clarification of the Community rules which affect him.
Such a reference can be made only by a national court.
* = zahtjev za prethodnu odluku / mišljenje

16. General Court
- 46 judges in office as of October 4, 2017, renewable term of office of six years;  does not have permanent Advocates General
Cases before the General Court are heard by Chambers of five or three Judges or, in some cases, as a single Judge; a Grand Chamber (fifteen Judges) when this is justified by the legal complexity or importance of the case.
deals with cases brought forward by private individuals, companies and some organisations; actions brought by the MS against the Commission; disputes between the institutions of the European Union and their staff concerning employment relations and the social security system
The decisions of the General Court may, within two months, be subject to an appeal before the Court of Justice, limited to points of law.

17. The European Court of Auditors
set up in 1975, based in Luxembourg
it audits the revenue and expenditure of the European Union.
aims to contribute to improving the financial management of European Union funds, to ensure maximum value for money for all citizens of the Union.

18. Language work Control your knowledge and do the exercise IV, p. 255
2. Do the language ex. V – VII, p. 257

19. Other EU institutions
Do the exercise VIII, p. 258 to find out more about other EU institutions

20. PART II Study thoroughly the authentic text on
Reference for prelimionary ruling and to the exercises based on the text