2024
Chapter 2
the actors of the European union’s integration process
KATRIEN VANDENPLAS
,Chapter 2: the actors of the European
union’s integration process
Contents
2.1. Members states ................................................................................................. 4
2.1.1. the member states and the EU ..................................................................... 4
2.1.2. accession ................................................................................................... 5
2.1.3. withdrawal .................................................................................................. 8
2.2. EU citizens ........................................................................................................ 9
2.2.1. institutional role of citizens and national parliaments .................................... 9
2.2.2. political and administrative rights ............................................................... 10
2.2.3. right to non-discrimination and free movement ........................................... 12
2.3. institutions ...................................................................................................... 13
2.3.1. a balanced institutional framework ............................................................. 13
2.3.1.1. institutional framework........................................................................ 13
2.3.2.1. guiding principles ................................................................................ 14
2.3.2. The parliament .......................................................................................... 15
2.3.2.1. a brief description ............................................................................... 15
2.3.2.2. elections ............................................................................................ 15
2.3.2.3. composition ....................................................................................... 16
2.3.2.4. members ............................................................................................ 16
2.3.2.5. functioning and organisation ................................................................ 17
2.3.2.6. function and powers............................................................................ 19
2.3.2.7. sessions, seat and places of work ........................................................ 20
2.3.3. the European council................................................................................. 21
2.3.3.1. a brief description ............................................................................... 21
2.3.3.2. composition ....................................................................................... 21
2.3.3.3. functioning and organisation ................................................................ 21
2.3.3.4. Decision-making ................................................................................. 22
2.3.3.5. function and powers............................................................................ 23
2.3.3.6. relationship to Euro summits ............................................................... 24
1
Katrien Vandenplas
, 2.3.4. the council ................................................................................................ 25
2.3.4.1. a brief description ............................................................................... 25
2.3.4.2. composition ....................................................................................... 25
2.3.4.3. internal organisation ........................................................................... 25
2.3.4.4. Decision-making ................................................................................. 27
2.3.4.5. function and powers............................................................................ 28
2.3.4.6. seat and places of work ....................................................................... 29
2.3.4.7. relationship to the Eurogroup ............................................................... 29
2.5.3. The commission ........................................................................................ 30
2.3.5.1. a brief description ............................................................................... 30
2.3.5.2. composition ....................................................................................... 30
2.3.5.3. Designation and end of mandate .......................................................... 31
2.3.5.4. decision-making ................................................................................. 32
2.3.5.5. functioning and organisation ................................................................ 32
2.3.5.6. functions and powers .......................................................................... 33
2.3.5.7. seat.................................................................................................... 33
2.3.6. the high representative of the union for foreign a airs and security policy ...... 34
2.3.6.1. a brief description ............................................................................... 34
2.3.6.2. a twofold institutional anchorage ......................................................... 34
2.3.6.3. appointment and end of term of o ice .................................................. 35
2.3.6.4. the European external action service .................................................... 35
2.3.7. the court of justice of the EU ...................................................................... 36
2.3.7.1. A brief description ............................................................................... 36
2.3.7.2. a twofold institutional anchorage ......................................................... 36
2.3.7.3. Members ............................................................................................ 36
2.3.7.4. internal organisation ........................................................................... 37
2.3.7.5. decision-making and rulings ................................................................ 38
2.3.7.6. jurisdiction ......................................................................................... 39
2.3.7.7. seat.................................................................................................... 40
2.3.8. the central bank ........................................................................................ 41
2.3.8.1. the central bank in the Euro system ...................................................... 41
2.3.8.2. internal organisation and independence ............................................... 41
2
Katrien Vandenplas
, 2.3.8.3. functions and powers .......................................................................... 42
2.3.9. the court of auditors .................................................................................. 43
2.3.9.1. the guardian of the EU’s financial resources .......................................... 43
2.3.9.2. investigating, reporting and recommending........................................... 43
2.3.9.3. bridging with OLAF and EPPO to protect the EU’s financial interests ....... 43
2.4. looking beyond institutions............................................................................... 44
2.4.1. advisory bodies ......................................................................................... 44
2.4.1.1. the economic and social committee..................................................... 44
2.4.1.2. the committee of the regions ............................................................... 44
2.4.2. EU agencies .............................................................................................. 45
2.4.3. other entities............................................................................................. 45
3
Katrien Vandenplas
Chapter 2
the actors of the European union’s integration process
KATRIEN VANDENPLAS
,Chapter 2: the actors of the European
union’s integration process
Contents
2.1. Members states ................................................................................................. 4
2.1.1. the member states and the EU ..................................................................... 4
2.1.2. accession ................................................................................................... 5
2.1.3. withdrawal .................................................................................................. 8
2.2. EU citizens ........................................................................................................ 9
2.2.1. institutional role of citizens and national parliaments .................................... 9
2.2.2. political and administrative rights ............................................................... 10
2.2.3. right to non-discrimination and free movement ........................................... 12
2.3. institutions ...................................................................................................... 13
2.3.1. a balanced institutional framework ............................................................. 13
2.3.1.1. institutional framework........................................................................ 13
2.3.2.1. guiding principles ................................................................................ 14
2.3.2. The parliament .......................................................................................... 15
2.3.2.1. a brief description ............................................................................... 15
2.3.2.2. elections ............................................................................................ 15
2.3.2.3. composition ....................................................................................... 16
2.3.2.4. members ............................................................................................ 16
2.3.2.5. functioning and organisation ................................................................ 17
2.3.2.6. function and powers............................................................................ 19
2.3.2.7. sessions, seat and places of work ........................................................ 20
2.3.3. the European council................................................................................. 21
2.3.3.1. a brief description ............................................................................... 21
2.3.3.2. composition ....................................................................................... 21
2.3.3.3. functioning and organisation ................................................................ 21
2.3.3.4. Decision-making ................................................................................. 22
2.3.3.5. function and powers............................................................................ 23
2.3.3.6. relationship to Euro summits ............................................................... 24
1
Katrien Vandenplas
, 2.3.4. the council ................................................................................................ 25
2.3.4.1. a brief description ............................................................................... 25
2.3.4.2. composition ....................................................................................... 25
2.3.4.3. internal organisation ........................................................................... 25
2.3.4.4. Decision-making ................................................................................. 27
2.3.4.5. function and powers............................................................................ 28
2.3.4.6. seat and places of work ....................................................................... 29
2.3.4.7. relationship to the Eurogroup ............................................................... 29
2.5.3. The commission ........................................................................................ 30
2.3.5.1. a brief description ............................................................................... 30
2.3.5.2. composition ....................................................................................... 30
2.3.5.3. Designation and end of mandate .......................................................... 31
2.3.5.4. decision-making ................................................................................. 32
2.3.5.5. functioning and organisation ................................................................ 32
2.3.5.6. functions and powers .......................................................................... 33
2.3.5.7. seat.................................................................................................... 33
2.3.6. the high representative of the union for foreign a airs and security policy ...... 34
2.3.6.1. a brief description ............................................................................... 34
2.3.6.2. a twofold institutional anchorage ......................................................... 34
2.3.6.3. appointment and end of term of o ice .................................................. 35
2.3.6.4. the European external action service .................................................... 35
2.3.7. the court of justice of the EU ...................................................................... 36
2.3.7.1. A brief description ............................................................................... 36
2.3.7.2. a twofold institutional anchorage ......................................................... 36
2.3.7.3. Members ............................................................................................ 36
2.3.7.4. internal organisation ........................................................................... 37
2.3.7.5. decision-making and rulings ................................................................ 38
2.3.7.6. jurisdiction ......................................................................................... 39
2.3.7.7. seat.................................................................................................... 40
2.3.8. the central bank ........................................................................................ 41
2.3.8.1. the central bank in the Euro system ...................................................... 41
2.3.8.2. internal organisation and independence ............................................... 41
2
Katrien Vandenplas
, 2.3.8.3. functions and powers .......................................................................... 42
2.3.9. the court of auditors .................................................................................. 43
2.3.9.1. the guardian of the EU’s financial resources .......................................... 43
2.3.9.2. investigating, reporting and recommending........................................... 43
2.3.9.3. bridging with OLAF and EPPO to protect the EU’s financial interests ....... 43
2.4. looking beyond institutions............................................................................... 44
2.4.1. advisory bodies ......................................................................................... 44
2.4.1.1. the economic and social committee..................................................... 44
2.4.1.2. the committee of the regions ............................................................... 44
2.4.2. EU agencies .............................................................................................. 45
2.4.3. other entities............................................................................................. 45
3
Katrien Vandenplas
