DECISIONS IN THE UE

How the EU takes decisions

Decision-making

• Diferent institutions:

the European Parliament (EP/Parliament).

the Council of the European Union.

the European Commission.

European Commission proposes new legislation

The Council and Parliament pass the laws.

Some cases, the Council can act alone

The main forms of EU law

• Directives and regulations

Directives establish a common aim for all member states• Leave it to national

authorities to decide

Regulations are directly applicable throughout the EU• Without any

adition by the member state.

The rules and procedures

Are laid down in the Treaties. ‘legal basis’

Legislative procedure

• The three main procedures are:

‘co-decision’,

‘consultation’

‘the assent’.

CO-DECISION

CO-DECISION

• This procedure is as follows

FIRST •The Commission presents a proposal for a legislative act

SECOND •This is presented to the European Parliament and the Council.

First reading

• Parliament adopts its position at first reading.– There is no time limit

• Prepares a draft report is then discussed within the political groups .

• Parliament adopts its position by a simple majority

POSIBILITIESIf the Parliament´s position does

not contain any amendments

The act is adopted by the Council by qualified majority

It is published in the Official Journal.

Second reading

• Parliament examines the Council position– time limit of 3 months

• It may:– approve the Council position

o Is adopted

– reject the Council positiono Is closed definitively

– propose amendments to the Council position

Second reading

• Propose amendments to the Council position – The Council has 3 months to act.

If the Council approves all Parliament's• The act is adopted

If the Council does not accept all Parliament's amendments:• Start the Conciliation procedure

Conciliation and third reading

• A conciliation committee is called. There are:Representatives of the 27 Member States.Equal number of Members of the European

Parliament.• The committee considers

The Council position Parliament’s amendments from the second

readingo It has six weeks

It may:

If the conciliation committee does not agree with the text.

The procedure is terminated

If the conciliation committee approves the joint text

The Council and Parliament have six weeks to approve it.

It is aproved

CONSULTATION

Consultation

• Is used in areas such as agriculture, taxation and competition

• There are a proposal from the Commission• The Council consults:– Parliament, – The European Economic and Social Committee – The Committee of the Regions.

ConsultationParliament may:

approve the Commission

proposal,reject it, or ask for

amendments.

If Parliament asks for amendments

Commission will consider all the

changes suggests.

If it not acept suggestions

send the Council an amended

proposal.

FinallyThe decision

ultimately rests with the Council

which either adopts the amended

proposal

or amends it further.

THE ASSENT

The assent

• Means that the Council has to obtain the European Parliament’s assent– Because there are very important decisions

• The procedure is the same as in the case of consultation but:– Parliament cannot amend a proposal, they can:• accept • reject it

The assent

• The assent procedure is mostly used–for agreements with other

countries• including the agreements

allowing new countries to join the EU.