EU bureaucracy

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Chestii în plus pe care nu știu unde să le pun pe hartă

Powers over time

Forum for exchange

That role now belongs to EuCo (though they don`t mind about it, since they don`t have that burden anymore)

Used to be where history-making decisions were made

Gradually increased executive functions (since the Maastrich Treaty)

Even though they lost legislative power (co-decision with EP)

Spitzenkandidat system

Informal (that`s why it wasn`t used in 2019 and people haven`t trusted it since)

The political group in the EP with most votes appoints the Commission`s president

EU bureaucracy

EuCo

EP

Commission

Directorates general (one for each commissioner)

Coordinated by the Secretariat-General

They can overlap though

College of Commissioners

1 commissioner/state

Appointment procedure:

6. Council appoints the accepted College by QMV

5. EP votes by simple majority on the College as a whole

4. EP holds confirmation hearings with each candidate (and can also reject them)

3. The Council adopts the full list of commissioners

2. President appoints 1 per member and gives them portfolios (each commissioner has a different one)

1. Each state suggests 1-2 candidates

President

Appointment

2. EP accepts/rejects (has never rejected)

1. Council proposes a candidate (voted by QMV)

Functions

Allocates commissioners` portfolios

Lays guidelines for the College

Manages/Oversees its implementation

Proposes 7-year EU budget

Represents the EU externally

In trade and enlargement negotiations

Enforces EU law

Can fine corporations

Can take states to court for not complying

Initiates/Proposes new policies

Council of the EU

Decision-making procedures

Informal

Always a preference for consensus

Helps avoid public disunity

Formal

Simple majority

Used for procedural issues

QMV

Based on a double majority

Representing >65% of the EU`s population

Approval of >55% of member states

Used in most policy areas

Unanimity

Abstentions don`t impede it

Today, used in foreign and security policy, taxation and enlargement

Structure

Presidency

Its task is to ensure:

Sound law-making

Cooperation between states and between EU bodies

Continuity of the agenda

Mediating functions: key role in setting agendas, in setting the pace and in foreign deals

Rotates between groups of 3 member states on an 18-month basis (6-months each)

Exception: Foreign Affairs department, whose presidency is held by the High Representative

5 year term, appointed by EuCo

General Secretariat

Tasked to ensure continuity and coordination in Council proceedings (ex. monitor meetings, translate etc.) (basically, the backstage job)

10 departments, each for a certain policy

How these levels work

5. If they agree, the proposal passes/If not, it goes back to lvl 3 (for revision)

About only 10% of proposals reach lvl 1

4. If COREPER agrees, the proposal passes/If not it goes to the ministers (lvl 1)

3. If they agree, the proposal passes/If not, it goes to COREPER (lvl 2)

2. Working groups and committees (lvl 3) decide on it

1. Proposal comes from the Commission

Each department has 3 levels of meetings

3. Committees and working groups

Working groups examine Commission proposals (most technical work is done here)

Aprox. 150 committees for different policies (some very specific, some broad)

2. COREPER (Committee of Permanent Representatives)

Filter between lvl 3 and lvl 1

Prepares ministerial meetings

Senior committees (from lvl 3) made lvl 2 decline in influence

Preparation includes whether matters should be A or B-points

B-points = not yet

A-points = already discussed and agreed upon

2 formations: COREPER 1 and COREPER 2

COREPER 2: high-politics

COREPER 1: routine low politics

All states have a permanent representative at Brussels (like an ambassador)

1. The ministers

Bring together relevant ministers from members (accompanied by advisers)

Powers

Mediating

Finds compromises between national govts., and between EU institutions

Budgetary

Co-decides budget with EP

Executive

Economic affairs

Sanctions members for exceeding budgetary deficit

Foreign and security policy

Takes decisions with immediate executive implications (ex. sanctions on Russia)

Single market

Works with the Commission on technical decisions (ex. regulating chemicals in food)

Legislative

Institutional triangle: EuCo proposes law, Council and EP co-decide

Deciosion-making on legislation

Non-binding: just advice where EU has shared/exclusive competencies

Binding: co-decides with EP