Portfolio European Public Policy

EUROPEAN PUBLIC
POLICY

, European Public Policy




Table of Contents
Assignment 1................................................................................................................................................. 2

Assignment 3................................................................................................................................................. 7

Assignment 4............................................................................................................................................... 10

Assignment 5............................................................................................................................................... 12

Assignment 6............................................................................................................................................... 14

Assignment 7............................................................................................................................................... 16

Assignment 8............................................................................................................................................... 18

Assignment 9............................................................................................................................................... 20

Assignment 10............................................................................................................................................. 22

Assignment 11............................................................................................................................................. 24

Bibliography................................................................................................................................................ 26




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, European Public Policy


Assignment 1

In the first-year course Institutions of the European Union, I have learned the
functions of Europe’s main institutions as well as their political roles and functions. To
recap I will give a short summary about the political roles and functions of the
European Commission, the European Parliament and the Council of the European
Union.


The European Parliament is the only directly elected transnational legislature in the
world and the only directly elected EU institution. Its purpose is to review proposals
for new laws and vote. The European Parliament has the first read. If amendments
have to be made, the new versions are sent to the European Parliament for a second
and maybe even third read. When agreed by the European Council and the
European Parliament, both parties jointly adopt or reject the final proposal.


That leads me to the European Council, which is the forum in which the heads of
governments of the member states meet. The European Council has no legislative
function. It is the EU’s supreme political authority. Furthermore, it decides on the
EU’s overall direction and political priorities.


Lastly, the European Commission “promotes the general interest of the EU by
proposing and enforcing legislation as well as by implementing policies and the EU
budget” (European Commission, n.d.).
The European Commission;
 Proposes new laws
 Manages EU policies and allocates EU funding
 Enforces EU law
 Represents the EU internationally




The four symbols of the EU
 The first symbol of the EU is the flag. The flag consists of 12 golden stars on a
blue background. Whilst the blue is a representation of the west, the 12 stars



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