European Institutions

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European Institutions
How do they work and how to work with them? ENTP
training days 15th May 2006
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The Three Main Institutions(1)
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The Three Main Institutions(2)

• The European Commission
•  EU executive branch 
• Implements solely two policies competition and
  trade
• Implements other policies in co-operation with
  the Member states
• Monopoly of the legislative proposals
• Defends the European Community interest

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The three Main Institutions(3)

• 2) The European Council
• Represents the governments of the 25 Member
  States
• Co-executive with the Commission in some policies
• Co-regulator
• 3) The European Parliament
• 732 members representing the people of the
  European Union
• Co-regulator of most EU policies

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Others EU institutions

• European Economic and Social Committee (EESC)
• Main role is to represent employers, trade
  unions, farmers, consumers and the other
  interest groups that collectively make up
  "organised civil society ".
• Committee of the regions (CoR)
• Main role is to represent the regional and local
  authorities of the European Union

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The Main Actors In the European Commission

• 36 Directorates-General including
• DG Environment
• Initiate and define new environmental
  legislation .
• DG Regional Policy
• helping the European local authorities to
  generate sustainable development
• DG Employment, social affairs and Equal
  Opportunities
• Development of an European Social Model with
  more and better jobs in an inclusive society
  based on equal opportunities
• DG Energy and transport
• ensure that energy and transport policies are
  designed for the benefit of all sectors of the
  society, businesses, cities, rural areas and
  above all of citizens.
• DG Education and Culture
• Initiate regulation and programs on education,
  youth, sport and cultural issues

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The Main Actors In the Council of ministers

• The Council
• - 9 specialized Councils (competitiveness
  employment, social policy and health..)
• - Adopts the Commissions proposals and
  implements the regulations
• COREPER and working groups
• - Ambassadors or Counsellors from the 25 Member
  States
• - Discuss and negotiate the proposals of the
  Commission
• General Secretariat
• - Civil servants in charge of reporting and
  helping
• - Directorate General I responsible for
  protection of the environment, education, youth
  and culture
• - Directorate General G responsible for Economic
  and social affairs
• - Directorate-General C responsible for
  Competitiveness, Energy, Transport and
  Information society

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The Main Actors in the European Parliament

• 20 Parliamentary Committees including
• Committee on the Environment, Public Health and
  Food Safety
• - responsible for environmental policy and
  protection measures concerning sustainable
  development   
• Committee on Regional Development
• - responsible for regional and cohesion policy
  concerning the European Regional Development
  Fund, the Cohesion Fund relations
• - upholds relations with the Committee of the
  Regions, interregional cooperation
  organisations and local and regional authorities
• Committee on Transport and Tourism
• Committee on employment and social Affairs
• Secretariat a purely administrative role

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Overview on EU Policy
Political Priorities of the EU

• The Lisbon Agenda (competitiveness)
• European research area
• Small and Medium Sized enterprises (SMEs)
• Life long learning
• Unemployment rates
• Sustainable Development
• Social and territorial Cohesion
• The regional policy
• The social agenda

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How to work with the EU (1)
Knowing what is happening

• Political audit and situation analysis Define
  what are my needs
• Information gathering and monitoring gathering
  general informations about the EU
• Policy research drafting notes about a specific
  subject
• Strategic advice and planning Find out the main
  persons responsible and the next important steps,

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How to work with the EU (2)
Changing what is happening

• Participation in the consultation process (white
  papers, green papers or others consultations)
• Political contact building and familiarization
  visits to Brussels
• Meeting with EU officials and MEP
• Lobbying activity (sending amemdment, position
  papers)
• Coalition building finding others relevant
  stakeholders