The Composition and Role of the Institutions of the European Union

AS and A Level Politics

The Composition and Role of the Institutions of the European Union

The Commission

Composition

20 commissioners – two from each of the larger member states (UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain) – one from each of the smaller.

UK commissioners are Neil Kinnock from Labour and Chris Pattern from Conservative.

The term of office is 5 years.

Governments appoint the president after consultation with the European Parliament – The current president is Romano Prodi.

The European Parliament has a veto over the appointment of the members.

It is a supra national body – membership of that body are independent of their country, they are concerned with promoting the European Union.

Each commissioner, like a government minister, has an individual portfolio and has a department of the European Civil Service working for them.

Role

Key role – to propose legislation to be approved by the council of ministers.

Responsible for ensuring the proper functioning and development of the European Union.

Negotiates on behalf of the union in the field of external trade, e.g. Oil.

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It is a supra national body – membership of that body are independent of their country, they are concerned with promoting the European Union.

Each commissioner, like a government minister, has an individual portfolio and has a department of the European Civil Service working for them.

Role

Key role – to propose legislation to be approved by the council of ministers.

Responsible for ensuring the proper functioning and development of the European Union.

Negotiates on behalf of the union in the field of external trade, e.g. Oil.

Council of Ministers

Composition

Non – permanent body

Each government of the 15 member states has one representative on the council.

Its composition varies according to the subject under discussion, the appropriate minister will attend for each topic.

Role

Key Role – to vote through legislation.

Have power to instruct the Commission to undertake particular investigations.

Council decisions are taken on a mixture of voting procedures. Some require a simple majority others require a qualified a majority and others require unanimity.

Council are assisted by the Committee of Permanent Representatives (COPERER)

European Parliament

Composition

In Britain MEPs are elected in the same way as MPs, each one representing a geographical area. Elections are held every five years.

Currently 626 members, seats are allocated to each country roughly according to population. E.g. UK has 87, Luxembourg 6.

Arranged in semi – circle, seated by political affiliation, e.g. socialists sit together.

Role

It has supervisory power over the Commission. It has a right of veto over the appointment of the Commission as a whole, and can also dismiss the whole commission by a vote of censure.

The parliament has observatory powers over the Council. Parliament reports on it three times a year and the president of the council is obliged to address the parliament once a year followed by a debate.

Parliament can bring actions against other European Union institutions for failure to implement European law.

Parliament can set up committees of inquiry to investigate alleged contraventions of European law.