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'Session 2 – The Institutional
Structure of the EU’
Type Reading
?
Link
Materials
Notes
Identify the role of these key institutions:
European Council:
given legal recognition in 1986 by the Single European Act (SEA).
formally named among the European Union’s institutions at Lisbon (Article 13(1)
TEU)
Its governing provision states that the European Council will provide the EU
with the necessary impetus for its development and will define its general
political directions and priorities. (Article 15 TEU)
It consists of the:
- Heads of State of member states or of Government of the Member States
-President
- President of the Commission.
Decisions are normally taken by consensus (see Article 15(4) TEU and Article
235 and 236 TFEU).
It meets twice every six months in summit conferences
'Session 2 – The Institutional Structure of the EU’ 1
, It adopts mainly general political decisions which are then legally implemented
at meetings of the (normal) Council of Ministers.
Council of Ministers:
VOTING:
There are currently three systems of voting in the Council:
simple majority
qualified majority
unanimity.
It is important to be aware of the circumstances in which each system
applies. Each Treaty provision (or ‘legal basis’) lays down the voting rules by
which measures are adopted.
1. A simple majority is rarely provided for in the Treaties.
2. Qualified majority voting (QMV) is the norm, ‘except where the Treaties provide
otherwise
3. A number of measures of constitutional significance and/or political sensitivity
still require unanimity, including taxation, social security, foreign policy and
common security policy.
Commission:
NATURE AND COMPOSITION
It is important to note that Commission members are in no sense
representatives of their countries and are required to be above national
loyalties. They shall be chosen ‘on the ground of their general
competence and European commitment from persons whose
independence is beyond doubt (Art 17(3) TEU).
The President
chairs the Commission
attends the G8 meetings
'Session 2 – The Institutional Structure of the EU’ 2
'Session 2 – The Institutional
Structure of the EU’
Type Reading
?
Link
Materials
Notes
Identify the role of these key institutions:
European Council:
given legal recognition in 1986 by the Single European Act (SEA).
formally named among the European Union’s institutions at Lisbon (Article 13(1)
TEU)
Its governing provision states that the European Council will provide the EU
with the necessary impetus for its development and will define its general
political directions and priorities. (Article 15 TEU)
It consists of the:
- Heads of State of member states or of Government of the Member States
-President
- President of the Commission.
Decisions are normally taken by consensus (see Article 15(4) TEU and Article
235 and 236 TFEU).
It meets twice every six months in summit conferences
'Session 2 – The Institutional Structure of the EU’ 1
, It adopts mainly general political decisions which are then legally implemented
at meetings of the (normal) Council of Ministers.
Council of Ministers:
VOTING:
There are currently three systems of voting in the Council:
simple majority
qualified majority
unanimity.
It is important to be aware of the circumstances in which each system
applies. Each Treaty provision (or ‘legal basis’) lays down the voting rules by
which measures are adopted.
1. A simple majority is rarely provided for in the Treaties.
2. Qualified majority voting (QMV) is the norm, ‘except where the Treaties provide
otherwise
3. A number of measures of constitutional significance and/or political sensitivity
still require unanimity, including taxation, social security, foreign policy and
common security policy.
Commission:
NATURE AND COMPOSITION
It is important to note that Commission members are in no sense
representatives of their countries and are required to be above national
loyalties. They shall be chosen ‘on the ground of their general
competence and European commitment from persons whose
independence is beyond doubt (Art 17(3) TEU).
The President
chairs the Commission
attends the G8 meetings
'Session 2 – The Institutional Structure of the EU’ 2
