EPP Weekly assignment answers

PORTFOLIO
European Public Policy

ES4-2B
Mr. Pijlman

,Table of Contents
Week 1...................................................................................................................................................2
Week 2...................................................................................................................................................4
Week 3...................................................................................................................................................6
Week 4...................................................................................................................................................9
Week 5.................................................................................................................................................10
Week 6.................................................................................................................................................13
Week 7.................................................................................................................................................15
Week 8.................................................................................................................................................17
Week 9.................................................................................................................................................19
Week 10...............................................................................................................................................21
Week 11...............................................................................................................................................22
Bibliography..........................................................................................................................................25




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, Week 1
1. What is the political role and function of the
a) European Commission

The European Commission is a supranational organisation. Power from the member states is
transferred to the Commission. Furthermore, the European Commission is the most important
executive part. The European Commission is responsible for the implementation of decisions and
policies. They also have a legislative function. Namely, they are the only one in the European system
who can formulate proposals for new legislation. The European Commission also drafts up the
European Union’s budget, which then gets sends to the European Parliament and the council of
Ministers. Finally, they check whether the member states implement the new laws and the European
Commission represents the member states during negotiations about policies, treaties or
agreements (McCormick, 2015, pp. 5, 205, 297).



b) the European Parliament

The European Parliament has a legislative role. This role is shared with the Council of Ministers. It
decides on the new legislation that the European Commission proposes. The European Parliament
(The Council of Ministers) discuss the adoption of the formulated proposals of the European
Commission. The European Parliament (and the Council of Ministers) also has the power over the
budget, when the budget is approved by the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament, the
EP adopts the budget drafted by the European Commission. The European Parliament also has the
power over other institutions. For example, the EP has power over the European Commission and
can, therefore, coerce the resignation of the College of Commissioners by means of a censure
motion. They also verify appointments between the leading European Union officials, such as the
presidents from the three institutions (McCormick, 2015, pp. 5, 205, 297).



c) the Council of the European Union

The Council of the European Union/the Council of Ministers works in most matters together with the
European Parliament. They have a legislative role over the new legislation and thus discuses new
legislative proposals and the budget and when approved, adopt the budget. The Council of Ministers
also coordinates the economic and public policies of the member states, defines and implements the
European Union’s Common Foreign and Security Policy. Lastly, they negotiate on international


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