International law & European law – European law: EU
institutions
The Institutions
European Parliament
o Represents EU citizens and shares law-making and budget powers
with the Council of the EU.
European Council
o Sets the EU's overall political direction and priorities, made up of
heads of state or government.
Council of the European Union (Council of Ministers)
o Represents member state governments and adopts laws and
coordinates policies with the Parliament.
European Commission
o Proposes new EU laws, enforces EU treaties, and manages day-to-
day operations of the EU
Court of Justice of the European Union (ECJ)
o Ensures EU law is interpreted and applied uniformly across all
member states.
European Central Bank
o Manages the euro and EU monetary policy to maintain price stability
in the euro area.
Court of Auditors
o Checks that the EU budget is properly spent and that EU funds are
used efficiently and legally.
, Division of power within the EU
Note in particular the function of national governments (blue) in the
Council (yellow)
European parliament: Elections every 5 years. The right to vote may be
depending on the country.
Council of ministers: State chamber. Convenes in varying composition
depending on the policy area. Each country is represented by one member
European commission/ European council/ European court of justice/ European
court of auditors: each country is presented by one member
European central bank: composed of representatives of the national central
banks. It’s board is elected by the European council on the proposal of the
council of ministers
EU institutions
Council of the European Union (= the Council of Ministers or just the Council)
=/ the European Council or even the Council of Europe
one representative of each Member State (27 ministers)
Decision-making body (pass laws, coordinates policies,…)
Doesn’t have permanent members, minister from each EU country attends
institutions
The Institutions
European Parliament
o Represents EU citizens and shares law-making and budget powers
with the Council of the EU.
European Council
o Sets the EU's overall political direction and priorities, made up of
heads of state or government.
Council of the European Union (Council of Ministers)
o Represents member state governments and adopts laws and
coordinates policies with the Parliament.
European Commission
o Proposes new EU laws, enforces EU treaties, and manages day-to-
day operations of the EU
Court of Justice of the European Union (ECJ)
o Ensures EU law is interpreted and applied uniformly across all
member states.
European Central Bank
o Manages the euro and EU monetary policy to maintain price stability
in the euro area.
Court of Auditors
o Checks that the EU budget is properly spent and that EU funds are
used efficiently and legally.
, Division of power within the EU
Note in particular the function of national governments (blue) in the
Council (yellow)
European parliament: Elections every 5 years. The right to vote may be
depending on the country.
Council of ministers: State chamber. Convenes in varying composition
depending on the policy area. Each country is represented by one member
European commission/ European council/ European court of justice/ European
court of auditors: each country is presented by one member
European central bank: composed of representatives of the national central
banks. It’s board is elected by the European council on the proposal of the
council of ministers
EU institutions
Council of the European Union (= the Council of Ministers or just the Council)
=/ the European Council or even the Council of Europe
one representative of each Member State (27 ministers)
Decision-making body (pass laws, coordinates policies,…)
Doesn’t have permanent members, minister from each EU country attends
