1. S
Contemporary Europe
The European Institutions
POLS 208 European Studies
European University of Lefke

2. EU Institutions
POLS 208 European Studies
European University of Lefke

3. EU Institutions
POLS 208 European Studies
European University of Lefke
The Big 5
S European Commission – develops proposals for new laws and
policies
S Council of Ministers – takes decisions along with the
S European Parliament
S Court of Justice – ensures laws and policies meet the terms and the
spirit of of the treaties
S European Council – brings the leaders of the MS together at periodic
summits

4. EU Institutions
POLS 208 European Studies
European University of Lefke
S Cluster of other Institutions: European Central Bank, European
Investment Bank, Europol, and other regulatory and executive
agencies

5. EU Institutions
A constitution for Europe
POLS 208 European Studies
European University of Lefke
S A constitution is:
S - a written document that describes the structure of a system of
a government
S - outlines the powers of of the different governing institutions
S - describes limits on those powers
S - lists the rights of citizens relative to government

6. EU Institutions
POLS 208 European Studies
European University of Lefke
S Constitutions are permanent documents supported by a Constitutional
Court, provisions for amendments
S EU has no formal constitution, governed by ?
S Each has amended and built upon its predecessor, resulting in a mobile
constitution
S Eriksen describes it as “material constitution”: Ts are legally binding,
the EU institutions amount to political community separate from MS,
EU law represents a constitutional legal order

7. EU Institutions
POLS 208 European Studies
European University of Lefke

8. EU Institutions
POLS 208 European Studies
European University of Lefke
S When American leaders drew up a new federal constitution for the US
in 1787:
S - Contract between people and Gov’t, outlining their roles, powers and
rights
S - It was short and succinct
S - Was often ambiguous (room for evolutionary change)
S - Had provisions for amendments (changes to come through judicial
interpretations and new laws passed by the Congress

9. EU Institutions
POLS 208 European Studies
European University of Lefke
S EU treaties have none of these qualities
S Instead of contract between people and gov’ts, contracts among gov’ts
S Instead of being short, are long and often complex
S Instead of being ambiguous, the focus on making sure there’s little
room for misunderstanding produced documents of great detail
S Instead of being changed through formal amendments, judicial
interpretations or EU law, wholesale revisions were introduced

10. EU Institutions
POLS 208 European Studies
European University of Lefke
S The failed EU constitution (2004) might have given a chance for a
short, readable, and flexible American style document
S Where the authors of US Constitution were designing a virtually new
political system, few opinions to take into account, dealing with only
13 largely homogenous states
S Authors of EU Constitution summarize 50 years’ worth of treaties,
view of 15 different MS, and a dozen EE candidates
S Result: long, detailed and controversial document that failed at the
hands of French and Dutch voters

11. EU Institutions
EU Council
POLS 208 European Studies
European University of Lefke

12. EU Institutions
POLS 208 European Studies
European University of Lefke
S EC – functioned at the edge of EU system of governance
S Treaty of Lisbon confirms the EC as a full institution (similar to
BOD)
S EC discusses broad issues & goals
S Sharing the Justus Lipsius Building with the Council of Ministers in
the European Quarter of Brussels, it consists of the HOG of the MS
S They meet min. 4 times per year at summit meetings

13. EU Institutions
POLS 208 European Studies
European University of Lefke
S Chaired by an appointed president
S Provides strategic policy direction
S EC: key role in making appointments, nominating its own
president, the president of the Commission, and the High
Representative for foreign and security affairs
S The Council created in 1974: due to need for better leadership and
body that could take a long-term view of the direction of the
Community

14. EU Institutions
POLS 208 European Studies
European University of Lefke
S It immediately became an informal part of the Community decision
making system, legal recognition under SEA
S Maastricht further elaborated on its role: “the Council would provide
the Union with the necessary impetus for its development and shall
define the general political guidelines thereof.”
S Lisbon: “The European Council shall provide the Union with the
necessary impetus for its development and shall define the general
political directions and priorities thereof. It shall not exercise
legislative functions.”

15. EU Institutions
POLS 208 European Studies
European University of Lefke
S The EC: an important force for integration
S Most important initiatives out of EC discussions (e.g. launch of
the EMS 1978 & most treaties)
S Major declarations on int’l crises
S Key decisions on institutional changes (e.g. 1974 for direct
elections to the EP)
S New clarity to the EU foreign policy

16. EU Institutions
POLS 208 European Studies
European University of Lefke
S EC has also its failures:
S - inability to speed up agricultural or budgetary reform
S - agree common responses to crises in Iraq and the Balkans

17. EU Institutions
POLS 208 European Studies
European University of Lefke
S Till Lisbon, EC chaired by HOG of the MS holding the
Presidency of the Council of Ministers
S More sustained leadership: agreed to have an individual
appointed by the HOG for a term of 2 and a half years
(renewable once)
S In 2009, prime minister of Belgium, Herman von Rompuy
selected

18. EU Institutions
POLS 208 European Studies
European University of Lefke
EC makes key decisions on the overall direction of:
- political and economic integration
- internal economic issues
- foreign policy issues
- budget disputes
- treaty revisions
- - institutional reforms
- new member applications

19. EU Institutions
POLS 208 European Studies
European University of Lefke
The EC process of decision making- a combination of:
- Brainstorming
- Intensive bilateral & multilateral discussions
- Bargaining

20. EU Institutions
POLS 208 European Studies
European University of Lefke
S The outcome depends on:
- Combination of the quality & preparation
- President’s leadership skills
- Ideological & personal agenda of the individual leaders
- The interpersonal dynamics of the participants (e.g. Franco-German axis
or leaders with a record of progressive positions on Europe)

21. EU Institutions
POLS 208 European Studies
European University of Lefke
S Summits: 4 times a year, additional meetings when necessary
S In Brussels (they used to take place in the capital of the MS holding the
presidency of the the CoM)
S The agenda: driven by the ongoing priorities of the EU & emergencies or
unfinished business
S Some issues are regularly discussed (e.g. economic), and the E.
Commission also promotes its own
S Goal: to agree a Set of Conclusions (advanced draft that provides the focus
of discussions)

22. EC Summit

23. EU Institutions
POLS 208 European Studies
European University of Lefke
S Symbolism attached to the results of the summits: success or
failure reflect the ongoing process of EU integration and the
abilities of the leaders
E.g. Failure of Dec.2003 Summit intended to reach an agreement on
the draft constitution seen as reflection of the erratic Italian
presidency (PM Silvio Berlusconi)

24. EU Institutions
POLS 208 European Studies
European University of Lefke

25. EU Institutions
POLS 208 European Studies
European University of Lefke
S The German presidency’s success on brokering the treaty that
would replace the failed constitution reflected on the new
influence of the Merkel government

26. EU Institutions
POLS 208 European Studies
European University of Lefke
NEXT CLASS:
European Commission
European Parliament
Council of Ministers
European Court of Justice
Other Specialized Institutions

27. EU Institutions
POLS 208 European Studies
European University of Lefke
1. You should make groups of 5 students for the Final Presentation
2. Send an email about your group and the student’s names
3. You will be given a topic to prepare your presentations
THANK YOU