European policy & law-making
The policy pendulum = the decision between transnational solutions
and national solutions. This constantly moves.
Based on proportionality and subsidiarity: does the EU really have
to interfere or can the same outcome be realized on national and
smaller scale level?
Subsidiarity is a result of thinking about proportionality: the EU
will not intervene in any policy matter if the member states can
very well control it on national level.
Competences
● Exclusive competence: the union may legislate legally binding
acts. Fields in which all member states have to be in sync or
else it would not work. E.g single market
● Shared competence: the member states have the right to
legislate only if the European Union has not already
legislated in these fields. The EU may help, but also have to
be justified through subsidiarity.
● Coordinated competence: Agreements for the EU to coordinate
but cannot come with binding legislation, but still MS have to
adhere.
Hard law ←—-----------------------------------------------> Soft law
, HARD LAW
Primary legislation: the treaties come into direct effect
Secondary legislation: regulations, which have a direct effect on
all member states. Directives, which sets out a goal that the member
states must achieve, however they have their own choice on which
approach they take to achieve it. Decisions, which are binding for
specific stakeholders and not to all member states.
= part of the ordinary legislative procedure!
SOFT LAW
Recommendations and opinions: not legally binding, mainly political
and declaratory in nature.
Open method of coordination: benchmarking, guidelines, exchange of
best practice
OLP procedure
1.Agenda-setting: All institutions are involved.
2.Commission's legislative proposal
3.Adoption of legislation by the council and parliament:
trilogues between coreper and committees to reach an agreement
4.Transposition and implementation of adopted legislation:
Choice between several instruments.
5.Evaluation of legislation in practice: the European Commission
is involved
SLP procedure
● EP only gets consulted on certain legislative proposals. → so
the council is not bound to the the parliament's decision
● EP can also be asked for consent by the Commission in which an
absolute majority is needed in order for the proposal to be
accepted/rejected.
E.g Foreign policy!
Common Foreign and Security Policy
Main differences from other policy fields:
● The High Representatives and the European Council have the
right of initiative
● Decision making by unanimity vote of European Council and the
Council of EU
● The role of the parliament and commission is much weaker
The policy pendulum = the decision between transnational solutions
and national solutions. This constantly moves.
Based on proportionality and subsidiarity: does the EU really have
to interfere or can the same outcome be realized on national and
smaller scale level?
Subsidiarity is a result of thinking about proportionality: the EU
will not intervene in any policy matter if the member states can
very well control it on national level.
Competences
● Exclusive competence: the union may legislate legally binding
acts. Fields in which all member states have to be in sync or
else it would not work. E.g single market
● Shared competence: the member states have the right to
legislate only if the European Union has not already
legislated in these fields. The EU may help, but also have to
be justified through subsidiarity.
● Coordinated competence: Agreements for the EU to coordinate
but cannot come with binding legislation, but still MS have to
adhere.
Hard law ←—-----------------------------------------------> Soft law
, HARD LAW
Primary legislation: the treaties come into direct effect
Secondary legislation: regulations, which have a direct effect on
all member states. Directives, which sets out a goal that the member
states must achieve, however they have their own choice on which
approach they take to achieve it. Decisions, which are binding for
specific stakeholders and not to all member states.
= part of the ordinary legislative procedure!
SOFT LAW
Recommendations and opinions: not legally binding, mainly political
and declaratory in nature.
Open method of coordination: benchmarking, guidelines, exchange of
best practice
OLP procedure
1.Agenda-setting: All institutions are involved.
2.Commission's legislative proposal
3.Adoption of legislation by the council and parliament:
trilogues between coreper and committees to reach an agreement
4.Transposition and implementation of adopted legislation:
Choice between several instruments.
5.Evaluation of legislation in practice: the European Commission
is involved
SLP procedure
● EP only gets consulted on certain legislative proposals. → so
the council is not bound to the the parliament's decision
● EP can also be asked for consent by the Commission in which an
absolute majority is needed in order for the proposal to be
accepted/rejected.
E.g Foreign policy!
Common Foreign and Security Policy
Main differences from other policy fields:
● The High Representatives and the European Council have the
right of initiative
● Decision making by unanimity vote of European Council and the
Council of EU
● The role of the parliament and commission is much weaker
