1. EU for the Fast Stream © Crown Copyright 2007 EU for the Fast Stream Jon Worth jon@jonworth.eu

2. EU for the Fast Stream © Crown Copyright 2007 COURT OF JUSTICE AUDITORS COURT OF Economic and Social Committee European Ombudsman Main Institutions of the EU THE INSTITUTIONAL TRIANGLE PARLIAMENT COMMISSION COUNCIL of the European Union

3. EU for the Fast Stream © Crown Copyright 2007 European Commission The Executive of the EU institutions Can mean both the College of Commissioners, and the Commission services Berlaymont Building, Brussels “Guardian of the Treaties”

4. EU for the Fast Stream © Crown Copyright 2007 “The Members of the Commission shall be chosen on the grounds of their general competence and their independence shall be beyond doubt. The Commission shall include one national of each of the Member States” (Art. 213)

5. EU for the Fast Stream © Crown Copyright 2007 European Commission - Structure

6. EU for the Fast Stream © Crown Copyright 2007 European Commission drafts policy documents and EC legislation executes EC legislation prepares the budget manages Community finances monitors Member States’ compliance with EC law represents the EU externally (e.g. WTO) assesses states’ applications for membership

7. EU for the Fast Stream © Crown Copyright 2007 European Parliament Brussels Strasbourg “The European Parliament … shall consist of representatives of the peoples of the states brought together in the Community …” (Art. 189)

8. EU for the Fast Stream © Crown Copyright 2007 5 99 78 785 MEPs

9. EU for the Fast Stream © Crown Copyright 2007 Total: 785 MEPs

10. EU for the Fast Stream © Crown Copyright 2007 Roles in the EP Has its own President 14 Vice Presidents 20 Committee Chairs Delegations, Rapporteurs, Group Coordinators Civil servants can speak to any of these (within reason)

11. EU for the Fast Stream © Crown Copyright 2007 European Parliament considers legislation passes reports approves the Commission questions Commissioners / Council approves the Budget

12. EU for the Fast Stream © Crown Copyright 2007 Council of the “The Council shall consist of a representative of each Member State at ministerial level, authorised to commit the Government of that Member State” (Art. 203) Justus Lipsius Building, Brussels European Union a legislative body representing the interests of the Member States

13. EU for the Fast Stream © Crown Copyright 2007 Council Hierarchy Whitehall UK Permanent Representation (UKrep) Working groupsCOREPER I / II, SCACouncil Art 133 CtteePSC etc.CATS / SCIFA

14. EU for the Fast Stream © Crown Copyright 2007 Council Formations General Affairs and External Relations (GAERC) Economic and Financial Affairs (ECOFIN) Agriculture and Fisheries Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) Competitiveness (Internal Market, Industry and Research) Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Environment Education, Youth and Culture

15. EU for the Fast Stream © Crown Copyright 2007 Population of EU Member States

16. EU for the Fast Stream © Crown Copyright 2007 Voting Weights of EU Member States Qualified Majority Voting (QMV) 345 votes, 255 required for majority Simple majority of member states (i.e. 14) States representing 62% of the EU’s population From 2014 / 2017: 55% of Member States 65% of the EU population

17. EU for the Fast Stream © Crown Copyright 2007 European Council meeting of the Heads of States and Governments meets 4 times a year (2 per Presidency) no formal decision making powers “The European Council shall provide the Union with the necessary impetus for its development and shall define the general political guidelines thereof” (Art.4)

18. EU for the Fast Stream © Crown Copyright 2007 All the EU institutions… THE INSTITUTIONAL TRIANGLE COURT OF JUSTICE AUDITORS COURT OF Economic and Social Committee PARLIAMENT COMMISSION European Ombudsman COUNCIL of the European Union

19. EU for the Fast Stream © Crown Copyright 2007 … not to be confused with Non-EU European Institutions: Council of Europe, European Court of Human Rights, ECHR, EBRD … but the EU does have its own courts, banks and councils – avoid falling into the vocabulary trap!

20. EU for the Fast Stream © Crown Copyright 2007 Pillars of the European Union European Union CFSP TEU II EC ECSC EURATOM TEC I TEU III PJCCM Pillar I – traditional areas of EU decision making, codecision with Parliament, majority voting in Council Pillar II – Common Foreign & Security Policy, different legal instruments, consultation with Parliament, unanimity Pillar III – Police & Judicial Cooperation in Criminal Matters, different legal instruments, consultation with Parliament, unanimity

21. EU for the Fast Stream © Crown Copyright 2007 Types of Community Legislation Directives binding, as to the result to be achieved, upon each Member State to which they are addressed choice of form and methods left to national authorities Regulations general application binding in their entirety directly applicable in all Member States

22. EU for the Fast Stream © Crown Copyright 2007 Council Deliberates Consultation with industry and lobby groups Policy Statement Parliament Amends Commission View of EP Amendments 1st Reading Member States implement Directive Agreed Council agrees to EP amendments Commission Draft Directive Co-Decision

23. EU for the Fast Stream © Crown Copyright 2007 Council Deliberates Consultation with industry and lobby groups Policy Statement Parliament Amends Commission View of EP Amendments 1st Reading Commission Draft Directive Council Accepts Parliament Amends Commission Accepts Absolute Majority Member States implement 2nd Reading Common Position Directive Agreed

24. EU for the Fast Stream © Crown Copyright 2007 Consultation with industry and lobby groups Policy Statement Parliament Amends Commission View of EP Amendments 1st Reading Commission Draft Directive Council Rejects Member States implement Directive Agreed Council Deliberates Parliament Amends 2nd Reading Common Position Concilation Parliament Negotiates Council Negotiates Commission Negotiates Commission Rejects

25. EU for the Fast Stream © Crown Copyright 2007 Pillar II Instruments Decisions General Guidelines Overall priorities and features of CFSP, including on matters with defence implications Common Strategy Describes the approach towards a certain country or region, across pillars Joint Action Addresses specific situations where operational action is required Common Position Approach of the EU to a particular matter (geographic or thematic) Decision Implementation measure for CFSP Declaration Statement with regard to an international political development

26. EU for the Fast Stream © Crown Copyright 2007 European Council General Affairs & External Relations Council High Representative for CFSP COREPER Political & Security Committee (PSC / COPS) European Military Committee (EUMC) EU Military Staff (EUMS) Committee for Civilian Aspects of Crisis Management (CIVCOM) Council Secretariat -Policy Planning and Early Warning Unit -Joint Situation Centre (SitCen) -DG E Commission -College -External Relations Commissioner -External Relations DG Special Representatives Personal Representatives Working Groups CFSP & ESDP Decision Making Structures Monitoring Missions Correspondents’ Group Legal & Financial Aspects of CFSP (RELEX) Member State MFAs

27. EU for the Fast Stream © Crown Copyright 2007 Common Positions Define the approach of MS towards a certain issue. Not legally binding Framework Decisions (for approximation of laws and regulations) Approximation of the laws and regulations of the MS. Binding with regard to the result to be achieved and not with regard to the form and methods chosen - comparable to Directives under First Pillar. No direct effect. Decisions Conventions For any other purpose other than the approximation of laws. Council may adopt implementing measures by qualified-majority. No direct effect. Ratification procedure in all MS. Once adopted by 1/2 MS, may enter into force for those States. Member States in Council may adopt implementing measures by a majority of 2/3 of the contracting Parties Pillar III Instruments