The Institutions of the European Union
The European Union is organised through a series of institutions concerned with the formulation of legislation and its implementation. The key bodies include:
- The European Commission
- The European Parliament
- The Council of the European Union
- The Committee of the Regions
- ECOSOC
The European Commission
The European Commission is a body with powers of initiative, implementation, management and control. It is the "guardian of the Treaties" and has to protect the interests of the Community.
Members of the Commission are nominated by the government of each Member State and are usually senior politicians (the UK's Commissioner is Peter Mandelson.) Members are answerable to the European Parliament. Appointments are normally for a period of 5 years.
The European Parliament
Since the June 2004 elections, the European Parliament has 732 elected members (MEPs) from all 27 EU countries distributed between Member States by reference to their population.
The Parliament's main functions are as follows:
- consideration of the Commission's proposals
- the appointment (and questioning) of the Commission
- budgetary powers (shared with the Council of the European Union)
The Council of the European Union
The Council of the European Union (formerly known as the Council of Ministers, but often simply referred to as "Council") is the European Union's main decision-making institution. It consists of the ministers of each of the Member States responsible for the matters on the agenda, for example foreign affairs, farming, industry, or transport.
Each country in the Union in turn holds the chair for six months (the UK last held the chair in 2006). Ministers are supported by their Permanent Representatives - civil servants seconded to work for the Member State in Brussels.
The Committee of the Regions
The Committee of the Regions was established in 1994 and consists of 344 representatives of local and regional authorities appointed by the Council for four years on the basis of proposals from the Member States. It is consulted by the Council or the Commission on matters such as regional policy, the environment, education and transport - all of which concern local and regional government. It may also issue opinions on its own initiative and may be consulted by the European Parliament.
Economic and Social Committee
The Economic and Social Committee was set up by the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community in 1957 to represent the interests of the various economic and social groups. It consists of 344 members representing employers and workers as well as particular types of activity (such as farmers, the professions, consumer representatives, scientists and teachers, cooperatives, families, environmental movements etc). Members are appointed for four years by unanimous Council decision and this term may be renewed. The Committee is consulted before a great many acts concerning the internal market, education, consumer protection, environment, regional development and social affairs are adopted, and it may also issue opinions on its own initiative. It also has to be consulted on employment policy, public health and equal opportunities and it can be directly approached by the European Parliament.
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