The Institutionalisation of the EU

1
The Institutionalisation of the EU

• 11 November 2008

2
Todays Session

• Understanding the key institutions and their
  evolution functions and characteristics
• How can we think about the institutions and
  actors?
• How has their role evolved in the EU? How does
  theory help us to understand and explain their
  evolution and influence?

3
Hour 1

• Tutors comments the evolution of the
  institutions the European Council and Council
  of Ministers
• Group 1 the European Commission (Mujge, Mariel,
  Zheng) Questions and Discussion

4
Hour 2

• Group 2 (Urte, Nikoleta, Edgars) The EP
  Questions and Discussion
• Group 3 (Stephen, George) Interest Groups -
  Questions and Discussion
• Summary

5

• Evolution
• Functions and Powers
• Issues
• Theory

6
European Council

• Settling problems and providing leadership
• Top level of Council system
• 4 Summits per year - in Brussels (post-Nice)
• Setting the political agenda enlargement,
  ERRF, monetary union, Treaty reform
• Reform Treaty official EU institution/permanent
  presidency

7
The Council of Ministers

• Legislative and Executive functions
• Passes law (jointly with EP under co-decision)
• Coordination of economic policies
• Agrees the Budget (with EP)
• Implements CFSP/ESDP
• Coordinates MS action in JHA
• Concludes international agreements
• (Hayes-Renshaw 2006 66)

8
European Council
Decisions A Points B Points
Approx. 3000 officials
9
COREPER

• Coreper II Permanent
• - General Affairs
• Development
• Budget
• Structural funds
• Association agreements
• /

• Coreper I Deputies
• Single market
• Justice, Home Affairs
• Conciliation (co-decision)
• Security
• Employment/Transport
• Fisheries
• Agriculture
• /

10
Voting In the Council

• Unanimity, Simple Majority (Procedural) and QMV
• QMV after Nice 255 votes (74 approx), including
  a majority of MS, as well as 62 of the EUs
  population
• QMV and the Reform Treaty 55 of MS comprising
  65 of the EUs population
• Reality Use of consensus not strategic/formal
  voting

11
Presidency

• Rotates every 6 months
• Management and coordination of Council business
  (e.g. chairing meetings, hosting Euro Council
  meetings, acting as spokesperson for the Council
  etc
• Build consensus and move decision-making forward
• Influence not power - setting the agenda
• Reform Treaty Informal practice where Presidency
  is shared between a trio of countries over 18
  months to be formalised

12
Theory

• Embodies the tension between IG and
  supranationalism
• How can it be understood? To what extent are
  decisions made through strategic interest
  calculation or through a sense of collective
  purpose?
• Democracy and accountability
• The future role of the Council

13
The Commission

• Evolution
• Structure, powers and functions
• Has the power of the Commission dissipated since
  the TEU?
• How can we understand and explain the role of the
  Commission?

14
The EP

• Evolution
• Structure, powers and functions
• How has the EP gained its powers? Why have MS
  empowered the EP?
• Has the co-decision procedure enhanced the role
  of the EP in decision-making?
• How can we explain and understand the role of the
  EP?

15
Interest Groups

• What are the different perspectives on the role
  of interest groups in the EU?
• What are the political opportunities available to
  interest groups within the EU?
• How much influence do they have? What are the key
  determinants of that influence?
• Theory and interest groups