The European Union Explained Michael Raftery& Beccy Allen.
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Transcript of The European Union Explained Michael Raftery& Beccy Allen.
The European Union Explained
Michael Raftery & Beccy Allen
European Council
Who? Made up of all member-states’ heads of government or state President of Commission also attends
How? Meets four times a year Presidency of the Council rotates every six months
What? Defines EU’s strategic direction
European Commission
Who? Headed by Cabinet of 27 Commissioners Employs about 30,000 people
How? President of Commission chosen by EU governments Commissioners nominated by their national governments Commissioners and President approved by EU Parliament
What? Drafts proposals for EU laws Implementing decisions Manages day-to-day business of EU
Council of Ministers
Who? Made up of a government minister from each member state Membership changes according to the subject of discussion
How? Each country has weighted vote Makes decisions alongside the EU Parliament
What? Considers legislation from Commission Sets EU policy on issues where the EU can
only act unanimously- such as defence & foreign policy
Signs international treaties with non-EU states on behalf of the EU
Voice of the member states
European Parliament
Who? 785 MEPs MEPs form cross-country coalition parties and sit in these groupings
How? Elected every five years (in the UK we use a closed-list PR system) Only directly elected body in EU
What? Legislates as an equal with Council of Ministers Most work done in committees Vote in plenary sessions
Voice of the people
Court of Justice
Who? One judge per member-state Judges elect one of their number as President for three years
How? Judges appointed by the Governments of member-states Chosen from experienced and highly qualified judges in home
countries
What? Union law applied the same across EU Settles legal disputes Can overrule national law, if it conflicts with
EU Law, since it is the highest court in the EU
Court of Auditors
Who? One member from each EU state Elect one of themselves as President
How? Appointed by Council of Ministers Chosen from highly qualified auditors in home countries
What? Oversee EU accounts Produce audit report each year
EuropeanCommission
EuropeanParliament
Council of Ministers
EU law EU budget
Court ofJustice
Court ofAuditors
co-decision
AppointsAppoints & supervises
Proposes legislation and budget
arbitrates supervises
citizensNational
Governments
European Council
How it all fits together….
Directs strategy
European Commission proposes draft law
The Council of Ministers considers this draft
Does the Council of Ministers approve?
The Council of Ministers suggests changes
European Parliament re-examines the draft law
Does European Parliament agree?
European Parliament suggests changes
Can the Council and European Parliament agree?
European Parliament and Council call a conciliation committee
Can the European Parliament and Council reach agreement
Legislation is dropped
No
Law is adopted
Yes
No
Yes
NoYes
No
Yes
European Parliament discusses draft and makes changes
How are laws passed?
What do MEPs do? The 12 regions and nations of the United Kingdom have between three and ten MEPs
They divide their time between their regional constituencies in the UK and committee
and political group meetings in Brussels
For one week in every month they are in Strasbourg to vote in a full session of the
European Parliament
They do much of their political work as members of at least one of Parliament’s
twenty specialist policy committees
Contacting MEPs
http://www.writetothem.com/ allows you to enter your postcode and find out who your
MEPs are
Typically, MEPs spend Monday to Thursday either in Brussels or Strasbourg and
Friday/weekend in the UK
Contact all MEPs in your region, giving them at least 6 weeks notice and a variety of
dates
Useful Links
www.fco.gov.uk/en/fco-in-action/institutions/britain-in-the-european-
union/
www.europa.eu/institutions/index_en.htm
www.euro-know.org/dictionary/
http://www.eudebate2009.eu/eng/
http://www.itvlocal.com/myeurope/
Breakout session
Nominate a presenter to feedback:
What was the activity? Strengths/Weaknesses? How would you use it (differentiation)?