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European Union Introduction
The document summarizes the roles and powers of the three main EU institutions: the European Parliament, European Commission, and Council of the EU. The European Parliament represents EU citizens and has legislative and budgetary powers. The European Commission initiates legislation and implements policies and the budget. The Council of the EU represents member states and also adopts legislation and budgets.
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European Union Introduction
- 1. © 2010 EuropeanParliament, Visits and Seminars Unit Institutional triangle European Parliament 751 members representing the European citizens Adoption of legislation and budget Democratic supervision European Commission 28 commissioners Right of initiative Implementation of the European policies and budget Council of the EU 28 ministers representing the Member States Adoption of legislation and budget Concluding international agreements
- 2. © 2010 EuropeanParliament, Visits and Seminars Unit European Commission Lisbon Treaty: Main innovations European Parliament Codecision: the ordinary legislative procedure More control over the budget Subsidiarity check by national parliaments European citizens intiative Council of the EU More voting by qualified majority 2014: double majority
- 3. © 2010 EuropeanParliament, Visits and Seminars Unit Budgetary power Parliament decides the EU annual budget together with the Council Enlargement decisions Parliament‘s assent is required for the accession of any new Member States Legislative power Most EU laws are adopted jointly by the European Parliament and the Council of the EU Parliamentary control Parliament supervises other EU institutions and can pass a vote of no-confidence in the European Commission European Parliament Parliament’s powers
- 4. © 2010 EuropeanParliament, Visits and Seminars Unit Member States Qualified Majority Weighting of votes 352 Qualified majority 260 (from at least 15 MS) Blocking minority 93 Austria 10 Belgium 12 Bulgaria 10 Croatia 7 Cyprus 4 Czech Republic 12 Denmark 7 Estonia 4 Finland 7 France 29 Germany 29 Greece 12 Hungary 12 Ireland 7 Italy 29 Latvia 4 Lithuania 7 Luxembourg 4 Malta 3 Netherlands 13 Poland 27 Portugal 12 Romania 14 Slovakia 7 Slovenia 4 Spain 27 Sweden 10 United Kingdom 29
- 5. © 2010 EuropeanParliament, Visits and Seminars Unit European Commission European Parliament Council of the EU First reading Second reading Third reading First reading Second reading Third reading Right of initative Conciliation committee The ordinary legislative procedure Schematic overview
- 6. © 2010 EuropeanParliament, Visits and Seminars Unit Parliament’s calendar PLENARY SESSIONS COMMITTEE MEETINGS EXTERNAL PARLIAMENTARY ACTIVITY POLITICAL GROUP MEETINGS