Transcript Mikroekonomie I.

European Union
Institutional set-up.
Main institutions.
Ing. Tomáš Siviček, PhD.
Lecture 3 – Content:
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Institutional set-up of the EU.
Main institutions:
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European Council
Council of Ministers
European Parliament
European Commission
Their competencies
Source
• R.BALDWIN, Ch. WYPLOSZ: The
Economics of the European
Integration; Chapter 2
Additional information:
 How the European Union works, European Commission,
2007;
http://ec.europa.eu/publications/booklets/eu_glance/68/index_en.htm
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Europe in 12 lessons, Eur. Commission, 2010
http://ec.europa.eu/publications/booklets/eu_glance/91/en.doc
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Main institutions
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Unique character of the EU
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Mix of institutions representing EU, member countries and citizens
Principles and decision-making process
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Competences – based on Treaties
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European Council
Decission making „triangle“:
 European Commission – proposes laws
 Council of Ministers
adopt laws
 European Parliament
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Other institutions
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European Court of Justice, Court of Auditors;
European Central Bank
Additional institutions:
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European Economic and Social Committee, Committee of Regions,
European Investment Bank
Ombudsman,...
Specialised agencies.
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Community agencies
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Common Security and Defence Policy agencies
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Europol, Eurojust
Executive agencies
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European Defence Agency
Police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters agencies
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European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the
External Borders (FRONTEX)
Executive Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation (EACI)
Euroatom Agencies and bodies
Three key players
The European Parliament
- voice of the people
Martin Schulz, President of
of the European Parliament
The council of Ministers
- voice of the Member States
Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council
The European Commission
- promoting the common interest
José Manuel Barroso, President
of the European Commission
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European Council
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It is not the same as the Council of Europe
Created in 1974 – informal discussion forum
Maastricht Treaty 1992 – formal status
Since 1.12.2009 - an official institution (Lisbon Treaty)
The highest political organ (policy-making)
Heads of state and government + president of the EC
„summits“ – 4 times a year; special meetings
Overall EU policy – decissions on key issues;
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main goals, priorities, course for achieving them; problematic
areas (not solved at a lower level); common foreign and security
policy issues
European Council
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It does not exercise legislative functions.
Decisions: mainly consensus; in same cases QMV
HQ in Brussels
Permanent president - Herman Van Rompuy
(1.12.2009)
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Period: 2,5 years; (max 2 times)
Elected by a qualified majority vote of members
Represents the EU internationally at the highest level.
Tasks: preparing summits, coordination of work, continuity;
reports to the EP
Related materials
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Info on the European Council:
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Rules of procedure of the European Council
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http://www.european-council.europa.eu/home-page.aspx?lang=en
http://eurlex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2009:315:0051:
0055:EN:PDF
Additional reading
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(Nečas- Van Rompuy)
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European Council Conclusions
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http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/e
c/119449.pdf
http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/e
c/119175.pdf (4.2.2011)
http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/e
c/123075.pdf (23.-24.6.2011)
Council
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Council of Ministers; Council of the European Union.
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Ministers from every EU member state
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History – ECSC (Special Council of Ministers)
Depends on the topic (finance, agriculture...)
Council presidency
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rotates in 6 month period
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Council of Foreign Ministers
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2. half 2011 Poland, 1. half 2012 Denmark, 2. half 2012 Cyprus
1. half 2009 the Czech Republic
chaired by the High Representative of the Union for Foreign and
Security Policy/Vice-President of the Commision (Lisbon Treaty)
Prepares agenda, chaires, promotes legislative and political
decisions; searches for compromises
Council
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Key decission-making body - EU economic policy
coordination; foreign and security policy; AFSJ
Lawmaking and budgetary competences – shared
with the European Parliament (annual budget)
Signs agreements – negotiated by the Commission
Decisions
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simple majority vote
QMV – in most cases
unanimity (taxes, changes in Treaties, new common policy,
enlargement)
Council - QMV
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QMV until 1.11.2014 (EU27)
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QMV from 1.11.2014 - „double majority“
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55 % of the member states (15)
65 % of the EU’s population
Blocking Minority
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255 out of 345 votes
Majority of member states (14)
62 % of the EU’s population
At least 4 member countries
35 % EU’s population + 1 member countries
Council
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Council configurations (10):
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General Affairs and External Relations (GAERC) – now divided
Economic and Financial Affairs (ECOFIN)
Justice and Home Affairs (JHA)
Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs
Competitiveness
Transport, Telecommunications and Energy
Agriculture and Fisheries
Environment
Education, Youth and Culture
Responsibilities – in all first pillar areas
Close coordination; open method coordination; intergovernmental
cooperation
Meets in Brussels; but in April, June and October in Luxembourg
Council – distribution of votes
Germany, France, Italy, United Kingdom
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Spain, Poland
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Romania
14
Netherlands
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Belgium, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Portugal
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Austria, Bulgaria, Sweden
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Denmark, Ireland, Lithuania, Slovakia, Finland
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Cyprus, Estonia, Latvia, Luxembourg, Slovenia
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Malta
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TOTAL
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345
Council
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General Secretariat
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COREPER = Permanent Representatives Committee
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Ambassadors; weekly
Prepare work for the Council (exception – Special Committee on
Agriculture)
Working groups
Separate structure in matters of security and defence
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Assists the presidency – preparations, smooth functioning
Political and Security Committee (PSC)
European Union Military Committee (EUMC)
European Union Military Staff (EUMS)
Related materials
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Council of the European Union
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Presidency
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http://eurlex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/site/en/oj/2007/l_001/l_00120070
104en00110012.pdf#page=2
http://www.eu2011.hu/
http://pl2011.eu/
http://www.eu2009.cz/index.htm
Changes in voting weights
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http://www.consilium.europa.eu/showPage.aspx?lang=EN
http://europa.eu/institutions/inst/council/index_en.htm
http://en.euabc.com/word/953
European Commission
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„Voice of the EU“ - represents a common
interest of the EU
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Independent of governments
History – ECSC (High Authority)
Main executive organ – „executive arm“
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Implements decisions of the EP and the Council
Manages common policies and the budget
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CAP, Competition (mergers, subsidies); Interreg,
Erasmus
Supervision with the Court of Auditors
European Commission
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Proposes and enforces laws
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„Guardian of the Treaties“
Infringement procedure
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Represents the EU at some international
negotiations
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Letter expecting explanation
Letter confirming infringement with deadline
Court of Justice – judgements binding to all; financial
sanctions.
WTO, climate change, Cotonou Agreement (ACP)
European Commission
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Appointed for 5 years (2010-2014)
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Answerable to the EP
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A motion of censure against it - resignation
27 Commissioners – for each country one
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Approval of the EP (9.2.2010) – president and commision
Chosen by a government, but subject to political agreement of the
others.
Agenda (policy areas) decided by the president
President of the Commission - José Manuel Barroso
High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy –
one of two vice-presidents
Assisted by a civil service; agencies
Creation of the European Commission
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President-designate – goverments agreement (European
Council)
Approval of the EP
Commissioners – president designate + governments
Council adopts the list – QMV
EP approval of the list
EP interviews each nominee and votes on the whole team
Commission formally appointed by the Council by QMV
Proposing new legislation
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Analysis of the situation, interests and opinions
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Principle of subsidiarity
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Experts; committees, groups.
Coordination by the Secretariat-General
DG – director general responsible to the Commissioner; same
agenda
Approval of the proposal - consensus or simple majority
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If it can not be solved at the lower level
Drafting – Directorates General (DG) and services (Legal
Service)
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Interest groups, advisory bodies, national parliaments and
governments; civil society and public
during the Commission meeting (once a week; Brussels)
Proposal – presents to the EP and the Council.
Related materials
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European Commission
http://ec.europa.eu/index_en.htm
Members of the European Commission
http://ec.europa.eu/commission_20102014/index_en.htm
DGs and services
http://ec.europa.eu/about/ds_en.htm
Commission work programme
http://ec.europa.eu/atwork/programmes/index_en.ht
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European Parliament
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Represents citizens
directly elected every 5 years (since 1979)
Shared legislative and budgetary competences with the
Council
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Supervises EU’s activity
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Budget proposed by the European Commission
granting a discharge - Parliament's Committee on Budgetary
Control (COCOBU)
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Approves Commission President nominee (simple majority)
Interviews each proposed Commissioner
Approves the Commission as a whole
Motion of censure = dismissing the whole Commission (2/3
majority)
Questions to the Commission and the Council
Examines petitions of citizens; committees of inquiry
European Parliament
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President of the EP – Jerzy Buzek/Martin Schulz
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Number of MEPs
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For 2,5 year period
Currently 754
Not grouped nationaly
Legislative work
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Co-decision – ordinary legislative procedure
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Shared responsibility – in policy areas where QMV is required
Assent – ratification of international agreements
The political groups in the EP
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Number of seats in the European
Parliament
per political group
(January 2012)
The European political parties
Alliance of Liberals and
Democrats for Europe
84
Greens/European Free Alliance
58
Progressive Alliance of
Socialists and Democrats
190
European United
Left - Nordic Green Left
34
European People’s Party
(Christian Democrats)
271
European Conservatives
and Reformists
53
Total :
753
Europe of Freedom
and Democracy
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Non-attached
members 30
European Parliament
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Plenary sessions – monthly in Strasbourg (12)
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Additional held in Brussels (6)
„Conference of Presidents“
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President of the EP and chairmen of the policital groups – sets the
agenda
Parliamentary committees
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Bureau
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President + 14 Vice-Presidents + 5 Quaestors
General Secretariat
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Discuss (report of „rapporteur“) and draft (Brussels)
Administrative work; Luxembourg (and Brussels)
History – ECSC (Common Assembly)
Related materials
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European Parliament
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Faces of the European Parliament
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http://www.europarl.europa.eu/members/expert/groupAndC
ountry.do?language=EN
Standing Committees
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http://www.europarl.europa.eu/pdf/welcome_brochures/face
s/QA3009197ENC.pdf
MEPs by country and political group
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http://www.europarl.europa.eu/
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/activities/committees/commit
teesList.do?language=EN