How does the EU work?
The European Union consists of:
The 27 Member States:
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
The 27 countries which currently make up the European Union exercise their power jointly to better address the issues which transcend national borders and to have influence in the international area that no single one of them could possess alone.
The European Union works on the basis of treaties.
The Treaty of Lisbon, which entered into force on 1 December 2009, modified, but did not replace the treaties currently in force. It comprises two main parts: the first consists of adapting the present Treaty on European Union; the second modifies the Treaty establishing the European Community. In the new Treaty, the latter is renamed the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
Information on European treaties
The institutions:
- European Council
- European Parliament
- Council of the European Union (or Council of Ministers)
- European Commission
- Court of Justice
- The European Court of Auditors
- The European Central Bank
The institutions are assisted by European bodies:
- European Court of Auditors
- Committee of the Regions
- European Economic and Social Committee
- European Central Bank
- European Investment Bank
- European Ombudsman
- The European Data Protection Supervisor
The European Institutions
The European Council
European leaders meet in Brussels
The European Council generally brings together the EU heads of State or government and the president of the European Commission several times a year in Brussels for ‘European Summits’.
The Lisbon Treaty, which entered into force on 1 December 2009, enabled the election of a president of the European Council, with a two-and-a-half year mandate renewable once, who will represent the European Union in the international arena. This post, which makes the European Council a fully-fledged institution, was awarded to a Belgian, Herman Van Rompuy and should effectively guarantee the European Council visibility and permanence.
The European Council sets out the framework for European policy and drives forward the Union’s development, but it does not enact legislation. Its meetings are widely commented and reported on by the media. The Presidency rotates every 6 months.
Belgium will hold the Presidency of the European Union from July to December 2010.
European Citizens’ voice
The European Parliament is the largest multinational parliament in the world. It is constituted of 736 members, 22 of whom are Belgian parliamentarians elected by Belgian citizens at the European elections.
In contrast to national parliaments, the European Parliament does not draw up “European law” but rather examines the Commission’s proposals. It (modifies them and) votes or advises on their modification. The joint decision-making procedure allows it to take part in approving laws on an equal footing with the Council of the European Union.
The Parliament also plays an important role in budgetary matters.
Furthermore, it exercises scrutiny over the Commission, with the power to approve the Commission’s members and to discipline the Commission.
The Parliament has its seat in Strasbourg, where it holds the 12 periods of the monthly plenary sessions. The additional plenary sessions are held in Brussels, where the commissions also hold their meetings.
The Council of the European Union
Ministers from all member States make joint decisions
The headquarters of the Council of the European Union (or Council of Ministers) are in Brussels, where most of the decisions for Europe are taken. For each issue, the relevant ministers (e.g.: for transport or agriculture) gather and adopt “European law”. In many fields, the Council of the European Union makes joint decisions with the European Parliament. It also implements decisions made by the European Council.
the Presidency of the Council of the European Union changes every six months. Belgium held the Presidency of the European Union from July to December 2010.
Makes proposals for ‘European laws’ and monitors their application
The European Commission meets in Brussels and is constituted of a Commissioner for each Member State appointed by the different countries’ governments. It draws up European draft laws and submits them to the European Parliaments and the Council of the European Union for approval. When a ‘European law’ is adopted, the Commission ensures that it is observed in all Member States.
Protects European citizens
Upon request from an institution, a country or in certain cases a person, the Court of Justice sits in Luxemburg and arbitrates over disputes relating to the application of European law. It determines whether laws and their implementation has been observed and is assisted in its duties by a Court of First Instance.
The European Court of Auditors (seat in Luxemburg)
European budgetary supervisory body which monitors income and expenditures.
The European Central Bank (headquarters in Frankfurt)
Body responsible for European monetary policy. Its main duty is to guarantee price stability.
The European bodies
The Committee of the Regions (headquarters in Brussels)
Advisory body representing the interests of regional and local authorities.
Note that Belgium played an important role in founding this Committee.
The European Economic and Social Committee (headquarters in Brussels)
Advisory body representing the different socio-economic players in Member States.
The European Investment Bank (headquarters in Luxemburg)
One of the main global financial bodies which grants loans to finance investment projects both within and outside the European Union.
The European Ombudsman (headquarters in Strasbourg)
Works to protect European Union citizens and companies from maladministration.
The European Data Protection Supervisor (seats in Brussel)
Within the framework of developing new policies and processing personal data, it ensures compliance with the regulations governing privacy.