eu insitutions part i

S

Contemporary Europe

The European Institutions

POLS 208 European Studies

European University of Lefke

EU Institutions



EU Institutions



The Big 5

S European Commission – develops proposals for new laws and

policies

S Council of Ministers – takes decisions along with the

S European Parliament

S Court of Justice – ensures laws and policies meet the terms and the

spirit of of the treaties

S European Council – brings the leaders of the MS together at periodic

summits

EU Institutions



S Cluster of other Institutions: European Central Bank, European

Investment Bank, Europol, and other regulatory and executive

agencies

EU InstitutionsA constitution for Europe



S A constitution is:

S - a written document that describes the structure of a system of

a government

S - outlines the powers of of the different governing institutions

S - describes limits on those powers

S - lists the rights of citizens relative to government

EU Institutions



S Constitutions are permanent documents supported by a Constitutional

Court, provisions for amendments

S EU has no formal constitution, governed by ?

S Each has amended and built upon its predecessor, resulting in a mobile

constitution

S Eriksen describes it as “material constitution”: Ts are legally binding,

the EU institutions amount to political community separate from MS,

EU law represents a constitutional legal order

EU Institutions



EU Institutions



S When American leaders drew up a new federal constitution for the US

in 1787:

S - Contract between people and Gov’t, outlining their roles, powers and

rights

S - It was short and succinct

S - Was often ambiguous (room for evolutionary change)

S - Had provisions for amendments (changes to come through judicial

interpretations and new laws passed by the Congress

EU Institutions



S EU treaties have none of these qualities

S Instead of contract between people and gov’ts, contracts among gov’ts

S Instead of being short, are long and often complex

S Instead of being ambiguous, the focus on making sure there’s little

room for misunderstanding produced documents of great detail

S Instead of being changed through formal amendments, judicial

interpretations or EU law, wholesale revisions were introduced

EU Institutions



S The failed EU constitution (2004) might have given a chance for a

short, readable, and flexible American style document

S Where the authors of US Constitution were designing a virtually new

political system, few opinions to take into account, dealing with only

13 largely homogenous states

S Authors of EU Constitution summarize 50 years’ worth of treaties,

view of 15 different MS, and a dozen EE candidates

S Result: long, detailed and controversial document that failed at the

hands of French and Dutch voters

EU InstitutionsEU Council



EU Institutions



S EC – functioned at the edge of EU system of governance

S Treaty of Lisbon confirms the EC as a full institution (similar to

BOD)

S EC discusses broad issues & goals

S Sharing the Justus Lipsius Building with the Council of Ministers in

the European Quarter of Brussels, it consists of the HOG of the MS

S They meet min. 4 times per year at summit meetings

EU Institutions



S Chaired by an appointed president

S Provides strategic policy direction

S EC: key role in making appointments, nominating its own

president, the president of the Commission, and the High

Representative for foreign and security affairs

S The Council created in 1974: due to need for better leadership and

body that could take a long-term view of the direction of the

Community

EU Institutions



S It immediately became an informal part of the Community decision

making system, legal recognition under SEA

S Maastricht further elaborated on its role: “the Council would provide

the Union with the necessary impetus for its development and shall

define the general political guidelines thereof.”

S Lisbon: “The European Council shall provide the Union with the

necessary impetus for its development and shall define the general

political directions and priorities thereof. It shall not exercise

legislative functions.”

EU Institutions



S The EC: an important force for integration

S Most important initiatives out of EC discussions (e.g. launch of

the EMS 1978 & most treaties)

S Major declarations on int’l crises

S Key decisions on institutional changes (e.g. 1974 for direct

elections to the EP)

S New clarity to the EU foreign policy

EU Institutions



S EC has also its failures:

S - inability to speed up agricultural or budgetary reform

S - agree common responses to crises in Iraq and the Balkans

EU Institutions



S Till Lisbon, EC chaired by HOG of the MS holding the

Presidency of the Council of Ministers

S More sustained leadership: agreed to have an individual

appointed by the HOG for a term of 2 and a half years

(renewable once)

S In 2009, prime minister of Belgium, Herman von Rompuy

selected

EU Institutions



EC makes key decisions on the overall direction of:

- political and economic integration

- internal economic issues

- foreign policy issues

- budget disputes

- treaty revisions

- - institutional reforms

- new member applications

EU Institutions



The EC process of decision making- a combination of:

- Brainstorming

- Intensive bilateral & multilateral discussions

- Bargaining

EU Institutions



S The outcome depends on:

- Combination of the quality & preparation

- President’s leadership skills

- Ideological & personal agenda of the individual leaders

- The interpersonal dynamics of the participants (e.g. Franco-German axis

or leaders with a record of progressive positions on Europe)

EU Institutions



S Summits: 4 times a year, additional meetings when necessary

S In Brussels (they used to take place in the capital of the MS holding the presidency of the the CoM)

S The agenda: driven by the ongoing priorities of the EU & emergencies or unfinished business

S Some issues are regularly discussed (e.g. economic), and the E. Commission also promotes its own

S Goal: to agree a Set of Conclusions (advanced draft that provides the focus of discussions)

EC Summit

EU Institutions



S Symbolism attached to the results of the summits: success or

failure reflect the ongoing process of EU integration and the

abilities of the leaders

E.g. Failure of Dec.2003 Summit intended to reach an agreement on

the draft constitution seen as reflection of the erratic Italian

presidency (PM Silvio Berlusconi)

EU Institutions



EU Institutions



S The German presidency’s success on brokering the treaty that

would replace the failed constitution reflected on the new

influence of the Merkel government

EU Institutions



NEXT CLASS:

European Commission

European Parliament

Council of Ministers

European Court of Justice

Other Specialized Institutions

EU Institutions



1. You should make groups of 5 students for the Final Presentation

2. Send an email about your group and the student’s names

3. You will be given a topic to prepare your presentations

THANK YOU

eu insitutions part i

Government & Nonprofit