Making Europe work for development

EU institutions

The three main decision-making institutions of the European Union are:

This ‘institutional triangle' produces the policies and laws that apply throughout the EU. The rules and procedures that the institutions must follow are laid down in the treaties, which are agreed by the member states' presidents and prime ministers and ratified by their parliaments. It is the Commission that proposes new EU laws but it is the Parliament and Council that adopt them.

The European Council, not to be confused with the Council of the European Union, refers to the regular meetings of Heads of Government of the Community. The Treaty on European Union (EU Treaty) defines the European Council's role as "to provide the Union with the necessary impetus for its development and shall define the general political guidelines thereof". The European Council meets at least twice a year, and the President of the Commission attends in his own right.

The Court of Justice upholds the rule of European law, and the Court of Auditors checks the financing of the Union's activities. Five other bodies complete the system:

  • The European Economic and Social Committee represents civil society and the two sides of industry;

  • The Committee of the Regions represents regional and local authorities;

  • The European Central Bank is responsible for European monetary policy;

  • The European Investment Bank finances EU investment projects;

  • The European Ombudsman guards EU citizens and organisations against maladministration.

Council of the European Union

The Council of the European Union is the main legislative and decision-making institution in the EU. It brings together the Ministers from all 27 Member States with responsibility for the policy area under discussion at a given meeting. It meets in nine 'thematic' configurations, and international development is formally discussed at the General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) meetings, attended by foreign affairs ministers. Informal Development Ministers Council also meets regularly.

The Council is presided over for a period of six months by each Member State in turn. During its Presidency, the Member State has to take a consensual stance in negotiations. It has to organise and chair all meetings and work out compromises capable of resolving difficulties.

European Parliament

The European Parliament is a democratically elected body. It plays a watchdog role for the EU institutions and also has a part in the legislative process. Directly elected every five years, the Parliament is made up of 736 members (MEPs) who sit not in national blocks, but in eight political groups, which best reflect the political ideology of the national party to which each member belongs. The UK has 72 seats in Parliament.

The principal roles of the European Parliament are the examination and approval of European legislation where it enjoys equal footing with the Council. It plays a key role in approving the EU budget, exercising democratic control over the other EU institutions, and has the power to set up committees of inquiry. The Parliament must agree to important international agreements such as trade or association agreements between the EU and third counties.

As with national parliaments, the European Parliament has parliamentary committees to deal with particular issues (foreign affairs, budget, development, environment and so on). European citizens can submit petitions directly to the European Parliament.

The European Parliament has a Committee on Development called DEVE.

European Commission

The European Commission does much of the day-to-day work in the European Union. The Commission looks after the practical execution of EU actions and of the EU budget. It drafts proposals for new European laws, which it presents to the European Parliament and the Council. It represents the Community interest and as the guardian of the treaties, it watches out to see that European treaties and European law are properly implemented. The Commission enjoys independence in performing its duties.

The European Commission consists of 27 commissioners. The President is chosen by the governments of the EU Member States and must be approved by the European Parliament. The other members are nominated by the member governments in consultation with the incoming president and must also be accepted by Parliament. The Commission is appointed for a five-year term, but it can be dismissed by Parliament. It is backed by a civil service of 20,000 staff, mainly located in Brussels and Luxembourg.

Development Co-operation and the Commission

A new European Commission is due to take up a new five year term on 1 February. The President of the Commission has now received nominations from all member states and has allocated the portfolios. The nominated Commissioner for Development is Andris Piebalg from Latvia and there will also be a new Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response, Rumiana Jeleva from Bulgaria. Hearings of the new commissioners will be held in the European Parliament in January and only after that the Commissioners will be confirmed. 

 

 

Member Login

Not a member? Apply now


New user?
Forgotten password?