European+Union


 * __The Eu__****__ropean Union__**



=1.) Parliament=
 * What is the Parliament and who does it represent?
 * One of the EU's main law-making institutions that represents the people.
 * How many total members and members for each country are there?
 * 736 total members who are directly elected every 5 years
 * Germany = 99
 * France, Italy, UK = 72
 * Poland, Spain = 50
 * Romania = 33
 * Netherlands = 25
 * Belgium, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Portugal = 22
 * Sweden = 18
 * Austria, Bulgaria = 17
 * Denmark, Finland, Slovakia = 13
 * Ireland, Lithuania = 12
 * Latvia = 8
 * Slovenia = 7
 * Cyprus, Estonia, Luxembourg = 6
 * Malta = 5
 * How are new members selected?
 * They are directly elected by the EU populace
 * What is the role of the Parliament?
 * To work with the Council to decide on the content of EU laws and officially adopt them
 * To ensure that the Commission is doing its job, and in a democratic manner
 * To work with the Council to approve the annual budget
 * They have a separate committee to monitor budget spending
 * How is voting handled in the Parliament?
 * The Parliament adopts a position on Commission proposals through a simple majority
 * With treaties, 65% of the Parliament must be included in the 73.9% total EU majority
 * What are the major political parties in the EU Parliament and how many seats do they hold?
 * European People's Party (Christian Democrats) - 265
 * Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats - 185
 * Alliance of Liberals and Democrats - 84
 * European Conservatives and Reformists Group - 56
 * Greens / European Free Alliance - 55
 * Confederal Group of the European United Left / Nordic Green Left - 35
 * Europe of Freedom and Democracy Group - 27

Incumbent EU Parliament President Jerzey Buzek

=2.) Commission=
 * What is the Commission and what does it represent?
 * An institution within the EU that represents the EU as a whole.
 * It drafts legislation and runs the day-to-day business of the EU.
 * How many members are there and how are they selected?
 * There are 27 commission members, one from each country.
 * Each member has a 5 year term in office.
 * The President is nominated by the Council. The council also approves of the President's selection of other commissioners.
 * Any appointment must be passed through the parliament which also has the power to dissolve the commission.
 * What is the Commission's role?
 * To propose new laws
 * To manage the budget
 * To enforce the laws of the EU
 * To represent the EU internationally
 * How does the Commission handle voting?
 * Regarding the proposal of new laws, 14 of the 27 members must agree with it.
 * For major decisions (such as the admission of a new country) the commission vote must be unanimous.
 * For lesser decisions, the vote follows qualified majority.
 * What is "Agenda Setting Function"?
 * The Commission's role is to represent the EU. This job entails the idea that the Commission must "set the agenda" for the entire EU. They have the ability to propose laws and treaties because this institution has a combination of executive and legislative powers, the only EU institution to have both of these attributes. The Commission represents one of the largest supranational organizations in the world and it must work to set a path for the EU that leads to success and harmony between the EU states and the worl
 * [[image:manifesto-de-bz-km/Untitled.jpg width="692" height="979"]]

=3.) Council=
 * What is it?
 * The EU Council is the main decision making body of the European Union.
 * The European Union Council holds summits where EU leaders meet to decide on broad political priorities and major initiatives.
 * It's roles include setting the EU's genereal political direction and priorities and dealing with complex or sensitive issues that cannot be resolved at a lower level of intergovernmental cooperation.
 * Although the Council is influential in setting the European Union's political agenda, **it has no power to pass laws**.
 * Membership:
 * There are 28 members of the Council:
 * The head of state or government of every EU country and the Commision President
 * Term of Office: No set term of office, as one attends the EU Council meetings for as long as they are the head of government or state of their country.
 * President: EU COuncil President serves a two-and-a-half year term, with the possibility of renewal once.
 * Current EU President: Herman Van Rompuy (from Brussels, Belgium).
 * Selection Process for Members:
 * As the head of government or state is a EU Council member, the selection process for members is the particular form of election (of the head of government or state) in each country.
 * Who does the Council represent?
 * The EU Council represents the states.
 * When and Where does the Council meet?
 * The Council must meet at least once every six months, but usually it meets around four times a year.
 * The Council usually meets in Brussels.
 * What is its role, function, and powers?
 * (Partially answered in first question (What is it?) above)
 * The EU Council has legislative power, which it shares with the European Parliament under the "co-decision procedure".
 * In addition, the Council and the Parliament share equal responsibility for adopting the EU budget.
 * The Council also concludes international agreements that have been negotiated by the Commission.
 * How is the Voting handled in the Council?
 * Accoriding to the Treaties, the Council has to take its decisions either by a simple majority vote, called "qualified majority", or unanimously, depending on the subject to be decided.
 * Unanimous: On big issues, such as addition of new members or amending treaties, the Council must agree unanimously.
 * "Qualified Majority": Votes are assigned to member countries based on their size.
 * There is 345 total votes in the Council (For example, Germany, France, U.K., and Italy get 29 votes, while Malta gets 3).
 * A minimum of 255 votes out of 345 (73.9%) is required to reach a qualified majority.
 * Additonally, two-thirds of the member states must approve the decision and the votes casted in favour must represent 62% of the European Union's total population.
 * How is it organized?
 * Council of the EU: A part of the Council whose meetings are specific to a topic/ issue. For example, when discussing agricultural policy the Council is formed by the twenty seven national ministers (one from each country) who specialize in this particular field.

4.) Additional Institutions

A. **THE EUROPEAN COURT OF JUSTICE (ECJ):** The ECJ is located in Luxembourg, and is made up of one judge from each EU country, assisted by eight advocates-general. The Court’s main role is to ensure that EU law is obeyed with, and that the Treaties are correctly interpreted and applied. B. **THE COURT OF AUDITORS:** The court of auditors has one member from each EU country. Its main role is to check that all the European Union’s revenue has been received and all its expenditure acquired in a lawful and regular manner and that the EU budget has been managed soundly. C. **THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE (EESC):** The Council and Commission consult the European Economic and Social Committee when making decisions in a number of policy areas. Its members represent the various economic and social interest groups that collectively make up ‘organised civil society’. Role is mainly consultative and allows interest groups to let their voices be heard by the Council and Commission.

D**. THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS:** the Council and Commission must consult the CoR on matters of relevance to the regions, and it may also issue opinions on its own initiative. Its role is again consultative and to put forward local and regional points of view/opinion on EU legislation.

E. **THE EUROPEAN OMBUDSMAN:** The European Ombudsman investigates complaints about maladministration in the institutions and bodies of the European Union. Maladministration includes issues of administrative irregularities, unfairness, discrimination, abuse of power, failure to reply, refusal of information or unnecessary delay. P. Nikiforos Diamandouros- The current European Ombudsman

F. **THE EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK (ECB):** The role of the European Central Bank is to manage the euro and the EU’s monetary policy (located in Frankfurt).

G. **THE EUROPEAN INVESTMENT BANK:** Based in Luxembourg, The European Investment Bank’s role is to provide loans and guarantees to help the EU’s less developed regions and to help make businesses more competitive.