Institutions of the EU
European Parliament
European Parliament meeting in Strasbourg. (European Parliament, architectes: Architecture Studio.)
The European Parliament represents the Union’s citizens and its members are elected through direct popular vote. The European Parliament also exercises legislative power in the Union; it adopts the main part of the legislative proposals put forward by the European Commission in codecision with the Council; it supervises the activities of the other EU institutions and gives final approval to the Union’s budget. In addition, new Member States can accede to the European Union only after approval by the European Parliament.
The European Parliament has 732 members, known as MEPs. Elections for the Parliament are held every five years. The seats are, as a general rule, shared out in proportion to the size of the population of each Member State.
Plenary sessions of the European Parliament take place in Strasbourg twelve times a year i.e. every month. Its mini-plenaries are held in Brussels. The Secretariat of the European Parliament is based in Luxembourg.
Each revision of the Treaties has seen an increase in the power of the European Parliament. The main part of the Union’s legislative work requires adoption by Parliament.
Council of the European Union
European Council press conference in March 2006. (European Council)
The Council of the European Union, also known as the Council of Ministers, represents the Member States of the Union. The Council exercises legislative power by passing regulations and directives, on the European Commission’s proposal, usually jointly with the European Parliament. It also has the power to issue decisions. The Council adopts the EU’s budget.
The Council consists of government ministers from the Member States. The Council is one and undivided but it meets in different configurations depending on the subjects being examined. The General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC), also referred to as the EU Foreign Ministers' meeting, plays a key role in the work of the Council.
The Presidency of the Council rotates every six months among the Member States. The Presidency represents the Council in its relations with the other EU institutions and third countries.
The official Council meetings take place in Brussels, except in April, June and October when they are held in Luxembourg.
Preparation of Council decisions is carried out in committees and working groups of which there are more than 200. The most important committee is the Permanent Representatives’ Committee (COREPER) which consists of the Member States' permanent representatives to the EU and prepares all matters to be presented at meetings of the Council of Ministers. Other important committees are the Political Committee (COPO), the Economic and Financial Committee (EFC), the Special Committee on Agriculture (SCA), the 133 Committee, which prepares trade policy, and the 36 Committee, which prepares justice and home affairs.
European Commission
José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission. (European Commission)
The European Commission is an institution that acts independently of the Member States. It has an exclusive right to propose legislation and it is, on the one hand, responsible for monitoring the application of Community law and, on the other, for implementing the Union’s policies. The Commission also represents the Union in external relations, for example, in trade policy.
The body or College of Commissioners has 25 members (one for each Member State). Finland’s Commissioner, Olli Rehn, is responsible for enlargement issues.
The Commission employs a staff of 24,000, which makes it the Union’s largest institution. The Commission’s headquarters are in Brussels but some of its services are located in Luxembourg.
Other institutions
The European Ombudsman
The European Ombudsman investigates complaints about maladministration by institutions and bodies of the European Union.
Court of Justice of the European Communities
The Court of Justice, located in Luxembourg, verifies that the interpretation and application of Community law are consistent in all EU Member States. The Court of Justice also adjudicates upon disputes involving EU institutions and Member States concerning the interpretation of Community Law.
Court of Justice of the European Communities
European Court of Auditors
The European Court of Auditors examines whether the EU’s financial operations have been properly recorded, legally and regularly executed and managed so as to ensure economy, efficiency and effectiveness.
European Economic and Social Committee
The European Economic and Social Committee is an advisory body representing business life, labour market organisations and other socio-occupational interest groups. The Committee issues opinions on EU proposals concerning, for example, employment and social policy.
European Economic and Social Committee
Committee of the Regions
The Committee of the Regions is a political assembly that provides local and regional authorities with a voice at the heart of the European Union. The Committee must be consulted whenever new proposals are presented on matters that have repercussions at regional or local level.
European Central Bank
The European Central Bank (ECB), in Frankfurt, is responsible for the formulation and implementation of monetary policy for the euro area and for the management of the euro together with national central banks. The principal task of the European Central Bank is to ensure price stability and thus maintain the euro's purchasing power. The current President of the European Central Bank is Jean-Claude Trichet from France.
European Investment Bank
The task of the European Investment Bank (EIB), situated in Luxembourg, is to provide loans for investment projects that are in line with the Union’s objectives, support progress in the least developed areas of the Union and improve the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises.
Europa: EU institutions and other bodies
