European Union Institutions

By Author: James White
Total Articles: 29
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Introduction
A lot of people erroneously view European Union (EU) as a solitary undemocratic organization which is not accountable and not responsive to the public interests of its Member States. However, the EU comprises of several different institutions which together perform activities on behalf of the EU Member States. The EU has competency only for those aspects in where the regimes of the EU countries have decide to transfer certain authorities to the European level. These powers are then divided to specific EU bodies that deals with specific functions in relation to the powers bestowed on them. (Guy, 2006)

Make brief note on Role & Functions of the FOUR institutions.
The European Union (EU) is a group of democratic European states, committed to working collectively for peace and also prosperity. The EU is not a State with intention of replacing existing states; however it is a lot more than every other international organisation. Nuggent (1999) observers that, the European Union is really unique, The EU Member States have constituted common institutions which they hand over some of their independence ...
... in order for decisions on specific issues of mutual interest can be undertaken democratically at Union level. This pooling of control is also referred to as European integration (Nuggent, 1999)

There are five EU institutions, each one playing a particular role:
1. European Parliament (elected through the people of Member States);
2. Council of the European Union (represents the governments of Member States)
3. European Commission (driving power and executive body);
4. Court of Justice (ensures compliance with laws);
5. Court of Auditors (controls sound and legalized management of the
EU budget
The European council
The Council constitutes ministers from state governments all the member states. The council meets mainly in Brussels or Luxembourg regularly to concur on legislation and policies. The Council's duties are planned by diplomats and officers in a committee known as Coreper, which involves permanent representatives to the EU of each one of the member state. The UK Permanent Representation is called as UKRep; the council is based in Brussels. The Council brings the heads of countries or government of the EU and the president of the EU Commission together. The council determines the common political guidelines of the union. The Presidency of this EU council is held rotational by each one of the member state, for duration of six months. Meetings of the Council generally take place in Brussels. (Europa, 2007)

The European Commission
The European Union is the administrative and executive organ of the union, the Commission is controlled by 27 Commissioners, each coming from a member state, and the commissioners are in charge of furthering the objectives of the Union and executing the EU policies and legislation. The Commission drafts preliminary proposals for policy and legislation for consideration and decision making by the EU Council of Ministers together with the European Parliament. Commissioners normally serve for five years term and are nominated by their national governments but approved by the Union Parliament. MEPs have got the authority to dismiss the Commission. The Commission is in headquarters of the Brussels where majority of its permanent staff of over 25,000 are based. (Europa, 2007)

The European Parliament
European Parliament is a democratically elected body, members (MEPs) are elected after five years. Membership increased in 2004 when it was enlarged from 626 to 732. The EP works from Brussels and Strasbourg, the EP scrutinises the activity of other EU bodies, approves the annual EU budget, and forms and decides the new laws together with the Council of Ministers. (The European Union, 2008)

The European court of Justice
The European court of justice is based in Luxembourg; the court has a judge appointed from each one of member states. The court gives rulings on all legal matters and disputes which involves community law. Judges, who have a term of six years, are supported by advocates general who provide an initial ruling on every case before a final judgement.
The EU Court deals with two key forms of actions which are; those referred to it through member state courts for judgment of interpretation of the community law; and also those started off by one of the other bodies (usually the Commission against a member state). The Court has a total staff of about 1,450. (The European Union, 2008)

European Commission
The European Commission performs much of the daily routine duties in the EU and is the main source of power in the European Union's institutional arrangement. The commission is an autonomous body that is appointed by Member States to operate as neutral custodian of their united interests. It makes sure that all provisions of the Treaties reached and decisions of the establishments are correctly implemented. The European Commission outlines policies and laws and represents the union interest. However it does not take any particular decisions on the EU policies and priorities, since this is the privilege of the European Council and, in other particular cases, the European Parliament. (The European Union, 2008)

Composition
The Commission is comprised of a President, the college of commissioners which is the political wing, the Directorate Generals, and other specialised bodies acting as the administrative wing. The existing Commission (2004-2009) consists of 20 commissioners, together with the President, who are appointed through a common agreement amongst Member States and accepted as a body via the European Parliament. The Commission has a five-year term; however the parliament can dismiss it before the end of its term. It has a civil service staff of 20,000, mainly based in Brussels and Luxembourg. (The European Union, 2008)

Roles of the commission
The commission performs the underlined roles and duties
Policy initiator; broad initiatives, opens debate and proposals
Proposal of legislation; starts and outlines legislation for resolution by Parliament and the Council, the commission proposals are required to agree with the Treaties and assist in implementing them. They have to encompass three main objectives: identify the European concern r interests; organise consultation as broadly as needed; respect the principle of subsidiarity.
Guardian of the Treaties; makes sure that community Law is used correctly by all Member States
Negotiator of global trade and co-operation agreements; with countries outside the union or a collection of countries which are forwarded to the council to conclude, In this background, the Commission has vital responsibilities for support and development projects in the third countries
Manages the union funds and programmes; within the European Union
Mediator and broker; in case of disputes among Member States and involving Council and EP (budget etc) (The European Union, 2008)

How it works
Directorates-General
There are presently 23 departments in the EU commission identified as Directorates General (DGs). The DGs forms the main administrative framework which supports the Commissioners. A Director-General heads each DG, he reports to a Commissioner, who has political responsibility. The DGs are divided into different units; each unit has a Head of unit with a staff split into sub units. (Europa, 2007):

Commissioners
Each one of the Commissioner has his/her own section of responsibility that covers one or additional DGs, and he operates within the interests of the Union, autonomously of national governments. Commissioners meet on weekly basis and endorse proposals, operating as a college with collective responsibility. Each member country has at least a Commissioner and each one of the commissioner has their individual cabinet with mostly political appointments. The President acts as a figurehead of the Commission. (Europa, 2007)

Delegations
The Commission has got foreign offices all over the world referred as Delegations. The offices offer information regarding the EU, its policies and also programmes. The offices act as a location for contact amid the EU and third countries; these offices are actively involved in economic, political, commercial and cultural aspects, they play an increasing function in decision making for the European Union's external aid agendas. (Europa, 2007)

Influence
The Commission is the civil service of the EU, thus at a times there maybe tension among the political wing of the Commission with the managerial staff. In such a case the Commission will say its opinions louder than civil servants in Italy would. The President takes part as a representative of the EU at annual economic meetings of the G8 leading industrialised countries.( Europa, 2007)

Conclusion
The European Commission is the executive arm of the European Union. The commission has a responsibility of proposing legislation, to implement decisions, maintaining the Union's accords and the general daily running of the Union. The Commission works in the manner of cabinet government, having 27 Commissioners, each one from a member state, but commissioners are represent the interests of the EU as a whole rather than their home state. (Warleigh, 2002) The commission works together with other EU organs to effect the policies and the objective effectively, to ensure that the EU operate, all the five branches of the union are equally important.

Reference:
Edwards, G. & Spenser, D (1994): The European commission, London; Longman,
European Union (2008): The European Union; retrieved from www.europa.eu.int/eur-lex/lex/JOIndex.do; accessed on 2008-01-31
Europa (2007): Institutions of the EU; the European Commission. Europa (www.europa.eu/institutions/inst/comm/index) Retrieved on 2008-01-31
Guy, V (2006): The United States of Europe. London: Federal Trust,
Nuggent, N (1999): The government and politics of the European Union, 4th edition, London, Macmillan,
Warleigh, A (2002): Understanding European Union institutions, 1st Ed, Routledge,

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