European Union Institutions and Legal Framework
EU Community Standards and Legal Acts
Community standards are adopted by the Council and the Commission. They consist of:
- A) Regulations: Mandatory application directly in all Member States.
- B) Directives: Mandatory application directly at one or more Member States.
- C) Decisions: Compulsory rules governing particular cases.
- D) Recommendations and Opinions: Guidance that carries no binding force.
The European Single Market
The European Single Market allows for the free movement of persons, goods, services, and capital.
The European Commission: EU Executive Branch
The European Commission serves as the EU's permanent government. It is renewed every five years, within six months of the European Parliament elections. It consists of one commissioner per country and is headquartered in Brussels.
The Commission is accountable to Parliament, which can dismiss it by adopting a motion of censure. It attends all sessions of Parliament to clarify and justify its policies and also answers written and oral questions raised by Members.
Functions of the Commission
- Propose legislation to Parliament and the Council.
- Manage EU policies and the budget.
- Enforce European law (jointly with the Court of Justice).
- Represent the EU internationally.
EU Member States
The member countries include: Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Spain, Estonia, France, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Finland, Sweden, United Kingdom, Bulgaria, and Romania.
The European Council: Decision-Making Body
The European Council is the main legislative and decision-making body. It is formed by the prime ministers (or heads of state) of each member country. They meet every six months; when presidents attend, these meetings are called summits.
Responsibilities of the Council
- Approve European laws: In many fields, it legislates jointly with the Parliament.
- Coordinate general economic policies of Member States.
- Conclude international agreements.
- Approve the EU budget together with Parliament.
- Develop the Common Foreign and Security Policy of the EU (CFSP).
- Coordinate cooperation between national courts and police on criminal matters.
Presidency and Decision-Making
The Chair is rotatory and has a duration of six months, following the alphabetical order of the country's name in its official language. Since the Lisbon Treaty, the presidency is shared with a permanent president.
Regarding decision-making, there is a weighted vote system where not all votes are equal; the weight depends on the economy and population. There is a blocking minority (4 states representing at least 35% of the population). Furthermore, the entry of a new member or the signing of a treaty requires unanimity.