EUROPEAN UNION POLITICS
AND POLICYMAKING
Brenna
BPM 2e bach
, All rights reserved to: Claire Dupont
Table of content
EU in general ................................................................................................................................ 2
EU at a glance .......................................................................................................................................2
Belgium in the EU .................................................................................................................................5
EU treaties and EU law, decision making in context ............................................................................8
The EU institutions ......................................................................................................................13
The European Commission ................................................................................................................ 13
The European Parliament .................................................................................................................. 16
The Council of the European Union .................................................................................................. 20
The European Council........................................................................................................................ 25
The Court of Justice of the European Union ..................................................................................... 28
EU specified ................................................................................................................................32
Lobbying in the EU context................................................................................................................ 33
The National Parliaments .................................................................................................................. 36
Challenges in EU governance ............................................................................................................ 39
Information on EU treaties ..........................................................................................................41
1
, All rights reserved to: Claire Dupont
1_EU in general
The EU at a glance
→ 28 countries (27 after Brexit) (+ potential Balkan countries)
→ ± 510 million citizens
→ 24 official languages
What is the European Union?
→ NOT a federation (=partially self-governing state under a central government)
→ MORE THAN a democracy + international organisation
→ AT A MINIMUM: “A union based on politics, on economics and on rules”
o Political and economic union at a minimum
o Rule-making body !
Basis of EU: treaties
(> EU objectives and values
Values of EU (Article 2, TEU)
Respect for human dignity ⚫ Freedom ⚫ Democracy ⚫ Equality ⚫ The rule of law ⚫ Respect for human
rights (especially minorities)
The member states:
society of pluralism ⚫ Non-discrimination ⚫ Tolerance ⚫ Justice ⚫ Solidarity ⚫ Equality between men
and women
How are these values internally challenged inside the EU?
• Italy (migration crisis): too much refugees, not meeting requirements rule of law + human rights
• Other member states: solidarity by taking in people; but solidarity in securing borders!
treaty with Turkey → challenge in human rights
• Regions from countries in EU seeking independence/higher autonomy
Eu pretends they have no ‘power’: is an issue for the countries themselves
• Poland: government is putting judiciary system in bad day light.
reforming power of choosing judges in parliament (by most powerful party in government)
→ no separation of powers anymore
Why does the EU not fall apart after the challenge of its values?
EU motto: United in diversity
Is part of EU’s strength (by talking to countries and sometimes overlooking)
Objectives of the EU
2
, All rights reserved to: Claire Dupont
Article 3.1, TEU
The aim of the EU: “promote peace, its values and well-being of its people”
Article 3.2, TEU
“The Union shall offer its citizens an area of freedom, security and justice without internal frontiers,
in which the free movement of persons is ensured in conjunction with appropriate measures with
respect to external border controls, asylum, immigration and the prevention and combating of
crime”
Article 3.3, TEU
The Union shall establish an internal market. It shall work for the sustainable development of Europe
based on balanced economic growth and price stability, a highly competitive social market economy,
aiming at full employment and social progress, and a high level of protection and improvement of the
quality of the environment. It shall promote scientific and technological advance.
• It shall combat social exclusion and discrimination, and shall promote social justice and
protection, equality between women and men, solidarity between generations and
protection of the rights of the child.
• It shall promote economic, social and territorial cohesion, and solidarity among Member
States.
• It shall respect its rich cultural and linguistic diversity, and shall ensure that Europe's cultural
heritage is safeguarded and enhanced.
Article 3.4, TEU
“The Union shall establish an economic and monetary union whose currency is the euro”
EU institutions
≠ Council of Europe
European Parliament
The European Court of human rights
European Commission
European Council = EU members + other countries (before
Council of European Union Europe was even formed)
Court of justice of the European Union
EU names of important people
• EU Commission
o High representative for foreign policy and security + vice-president
= Josep Borrell (2019-2024): Spain (S&D)
o Belgian commissioner
3
AND POLICYMAKING
Brenna
BPM 2e bach
, All rights reserved to: Claire Dupont
Table of content
EU in general ................................................................................................................................ 2
EU at a glance .......................................................................................................................................2
Belgium in the EU .................................................................................................................................5
EU treaties and EU law, decision making in context ............................................................................8
The EU institutions ......................................................................................................................13
The European Commission ................................................................................................................ 13
The European Parliament .................................................................................................................. 16
The Council of the European Union .................................................................................................. 20
The European Council........................................................................................................................ 25
The Court of Justice of the European Union ..................................................................................... 28
EU specified ................................................................................................................................32
Lobbying in the EU context................................................................................................................ 33
The National Parliaments .................................................................................................................. 36
Challenges in EU governance ............................................................................................................ 39
Information on EU treaties ..........................................................................................................41
1
, All rights reserved to: Claire Dupont
1_EU in general
The EU at a glance
→ 28 countries (27 after Brexit) (+ potential Balkan countries)
→ ± 510 million citizens
→ 24 official languages
What is the European Union?
→ NOT a federation (=partially self-governing state under a central government)
→ MORE THAN a democracy + international organisation
→ AT A MINIMUM: “A union based on politics, on economics and on rules”
o Political and economic union at a minimum
o Rule-making body !
Basis of EU: treaties
(> EU objectives and values
Values of EU (Article 2, TEU)
Respect for human dignity ⚫ Freedom ⚫ Democracy ⚫ Equality ⚫ The rule of law ⚫ Respect for human
rights (especially minorities)
The member states:
society of pluralism ⚫ Non-discrimination ⚫ Tolerance ⚫ Justice ⚫ Solidarity ⚫ Equality between men
and women
How are these values internally challenged inside the EU?
• Italy (migration crisis): too much refugees, not meeting requirements rule of law + human rights
• Other member states: solidarity by taking in people; but solidarity in securing borders!
treaty with Turkey → challenge in human rights
• Regions from countries in EU seeking independence/higher autonomy
Eu pretends they have no ‘power’: is an issue for the countries themselves
• Poland: government is putting judiciary system in bad day light.
reforming power of choosing judges in parliament (by most powerful party in government)
→ no separation of powers anymore
Why does the EU not fall apart after the challenge of its values?
EU motto: United in diversity
Is part of EU’s strength (by talking to countries and sometimes overlooking)
Objectives of the EU
2
, All rights reserved to: Claire Dupont
Article 3.1, TEU
The aim of the EU: “promote peace, its values and well-being of its people”
Article 3.2, TEU
“The Union shall offer its citizens an area of freedom, security and justice without internal frontiers,
in which the free movement of persons is ensured in conjunction with appropriate measures with
respect to external border controls, asylum, immigration and the prevention and combating of
crime”
Article 3.3, TEU
The Union shall establish an internal market. It shall work for the sustainable development of Europe
based on balanced economic growth and price stability, a highly competitive social market economy,
aiming at full employment and social progress, and a high level of protection and improvement of the
quality of the environment. It shall promote scientific and technological advance.
• It shall combat social exclusion and discrimination, and shall promote social justice and
protection, equality between women and men, solidarity between generations and
protection of the rights of the child.
• It shall promote economic, social and territorial cohesion, and solidarity among Member
States.
• It shall respect its rich cultural and linguistic diversity, and shall ensure that Europe's cultural
heritage is safeguarded and enhanced.
Article 3.4, TEU
“The Union shall establish an economic and monetary union whose currency is the euro”
EU institutions
≠ Council of Europe
European Parliament
The European Court of human rights
European Commission
European Council = EU members + other countries (before
Council of European Union Europe was even formed)
Court of justice of the European Union
EU names of important people
• EU Commission
o High representative for foreign policy and security + vice-president
= Josep Borrell (2019-2024): Spain (S&D)
o Belgian commissioner
3
