by Tudor Spaisy 4 days ago
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Directs all activities of the EP
Represents the EP in other EU institutions and abroad
Chairs plenary sessions
Elected for 2.5 years, unlimited renewability
Handles discussions in the responsible committee and in the plenary
Leads negotiations with other institutions
The person responsible for handling legislative proposals, reports and opinions given by the EP
Selected by European party groups and elected by MEPs
Luxembourg
Strassburg
60-80 members each (22 of them); meet in Brussels
Political groups in the EP
Have EP funding
>=23 MEPs
Coordinate the activity of affiliated parties in EP committees and plenary
Transnational political parties/federations
Loosely organised entities with little resources (ex. ALDE)
Each state has its own electoral thresholds and minimum age requirements for candidates
With variations: closed lists, preferential voting, single transferrable vote (STV), multiple constituencies
Smaller states have fewer members, but a larger state`s MEP represents more people than a smaller state`s
Few parties have pan-European elections
Politicians don`t worry about helping the EU, but about how they can win the election (ex. "I`ll go to the EP to modernise our education system!" But the EP doesn`t have that power
EP elections are second-order polls (less important than national elections)
Before 1979, they were appointed by national parliaments
Written and oral questions to the Commission, the ECB and other EU agencies
Annual budgetary powers (makes sure the EU doesn`t misuse it`s budget)
Special and inquiry committees (also glonk)
Can dismiss the College (by motion of censure with 2/3 majority)
Elects the Commission`s president (after proposal by EuCo) and the College of commissioners
Excluded from deliberations on MFFs (multiannual financial frameworks)
MFFs set out the annual ceilings of expenditure that can be spent on different policy areas
Co-decides the budget with the Council
None (Glonk)
Can veto a legislation proposal as a whole in the consent procedure (but can`t propose amendments)
Gives non-binding opinion in consultation procedure
Co-decides with Council in OLP (ordinary legislative procedure)
Responsibilities
Ensure external representation of the EU
Facilitate cohesion and consensus within EuCo
Ensure the continuity of the work of the EuCo
Chair EuCo meetings
Post created in 2009; 2.5 years, renewable once
Before the Lisbon treaty (2009), there were 2 tiers of membership; because of enlargement, they got rid of tier 2
Tier 2: Ministers + one other commissioner
Tier 1: Heads of state/govt. +Commission president
Sensitive matters where the EuCo has to give clearance (or even decide)
Issue formal declarations on ongoing events
Formal role to identify the EU`s strategic interests in foreign and security policy
Overlapping role with the High Representative of the Council and the Commission president
Establishing criteria for joining the EU (ex. Copenhagen criteria)
Responding to crises (ex. Covid, Euro Crisis)
Institutional (appointing)
(Nominating) Commission president
President of ECB
High Representative of the Council
Its own President
Constitutional
Preparation for intergovt. meetings (IGCs), which lead to treaty reform (ex. Maastricht/Nice treaties)
Sets out policy frameworks in different fields
These matters are too sensitive/too political for others to agree on
= Doesn`t do things directly, but tells other what to do
Manages crises
Negotiates EU treaties
Got more power over time and now it`s like a board of directors
Coordinated by the Secretariat-General
They can overlap though
1 commissioner/state
Appointment procedure:
6. Council appoints the accepted College by QMV
5. EP votes by simple majority on the College as a whole
4. EP holds confirmation hearings with each candidate (and can also reject them)
3. The Council adopts the full list of commissioners
2. President appoints 1 per member and gives them portfolios (each commissioner has a different one)
1. Each state suggests 1-2 candidates
Appointment
2. EP accepts/rejects (has never rejected)
1. EuCo proposes a candidate (voted by QMV)
Functions
Allocates commissioners` portfolios
Lays guidelines for the College
Manages/Oversees its implementation
Proposes 7-year EU budget
Represents the EU externally
In trade and enlargement negotiations
Enforces EU law
Can fine corporations
Can take states to court for not complying
Initiates/Proposes new policies
Always a preference for consensus
Helps avoid public disunity
Simple majority
Used for procedural issues
QMV
Based on a double majority
Representing >65% of the EU`s population
Approval of >55% of member states
Used in most policy areas
Unanimity
Abstentions don`t impede it
Today, used in foreign and security policy, taxation and enlargement
Its task is to ensure:
Sound law-making
Cooperation between states and between EU bodies
Continuity of the agenda
Mediating functions: key role in setting agendas, in setting the pace and in foreign deals
Rotates between groups of 3 member states on an 18-month basis (6-months each)
Exception: Foreign Affairs department, whose presidency is held by the High Representative
5 year term, appointed by EuCo
Tasked to ensure continuity and coordination in Council proceedings (ex. monitor meetings, translate etc.) (basically, the backstage job)
How these levels work
5. If they agree, the proposal passes/If not, it goes back to lvl 3 (for revision)
About only 10% of proposals reach lvl 1
4. If COREPER agrees, the proposal passes/If not it goes to the ministers (lvl 1)
3. If they agree, the proposal passes/If not, it goes to COREPER (lvl 2)
2. Working groups and committees (lvl 3) decide on it
1. Proposal comes from the Commission
Each department has 3 levels of meetings
3. Committees and working groups
Working groups examine Commission proposals (most technical work is done here)
Aprox. 150 committees for different policies (some very specific, some broad)
2. COREPER (Committee of Permanent Representatives)
Filter between lvl 3 and lvl 1
Prepares ministerial meetings
Senior committees (from lvl 3) made lvl 2 decline in influence
Preparation includes whether matters should be A or B-points
B-points = not yet
A-points = already discussed and agreed upon
2 formations: COREPER 1 and COREPER 2
COREPER 2: high-politics
COREPER 1: routine low politics
All states have a permanent representative at Brussels (like an ambassador)
1. The ministers
Bring together relevant ministers from members (accompanied by advisers)
Finds compromises between national govts., and between EU institutions
Co-decides budget with EP
Economic affairs
Sanctions members for exceeding budgetary deficit
Foreign and security policy
Takes decisions with immediate executive implications (ex. sanctions on Russia)
Single market
Works with the Commission on technical decisions (ex. regulating chemicals in food)
Institutional triangle: EuCo proposes law, Council and EP co-decide
Deciosion-making on legislation
Non-binding: just advice where EU has shared/exclusive competencies
Binding: co-decides with EP
