An introduction to the European Commission

Transcription

1 An introduction to the European Commission

2 The roots of the EU project 9 May 1950 French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman presents a plan for peace and prosperity through deeper cooperation. 18 April Treaty of Paris creates the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC).

3 Started with the European Coal & Steel Community Luxemburg Belgium Netherlands High Authority Italy Germany France 12/3/2013 3

4 The institutional landscape The ECSC Treaty created key institutions A High Authority which later became the Commission An Assembly which later became the Parliament A Council of Ministers representing Member States A Court of Justice.

5 Sharing Sovereignty and Managing the Results High Authority Council Assembly

6 Monitoring the Sharing of Sovereignty European Commission European Council / Council of Ministers European Parliament

7 The EU Institutions European Council (summit) European Parliament Council of Ministers (The Council) European Commission Court of Justice Court of Auditors Economic and Social Committee Committee of the Regions European Investment Bank Agencies European Central Bank

8 The treaties basis for democratic cooperation built on law 1952 The European Steel and Coal Community 1958 The treaties of Rome: The European Economic Community The European Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM) 2009 Treaty of Lisbon 1987 The European Single Act: the Single Market 2003 Treaty of Nice 1999 Treaty of Amsterdam 1993 Treaty of European Union Maastricht

9 The Lisbon treaty - taking Europe into the 21st century The Treaty will make the European Union: More efficient Simpler processes, full-time president for the Council, etc. More democratic Stronger role for the European Parliament and national parliaments, "Citizens Initiative", Charter of Fundamental Rights, etc. More transparent Clarifies who does what, greater public access to documents and meetings, etc. More united on the world stage More secure High Representative for Foreign Policy, etc. New possibilities to fight climate change and terrorism, secure energy supplies, etc.

10 The Commission may also propose new laws on the basis of a request from citizens The European Citizens Initiative is a new tool for participatory democracy in the EU. Introduced by the Lisbon Treaty, it requires a million signatures in 7 Member States. An ECI must be in an area within the Commission s competence. So far several ECI proposals have been accepted. In May 2013 the first ECI successfully reached the minimum requirements. More than 1.5 million people have signed up to ensure that all Europeans have a right to clean, safe water and sanitation.

11 What makes the EU different? It s a system of partial sovereignty-sharing between nation-states

12 The Lisbon treaty - taking Europe into the 21st century Treaty stipulates who is to act in which domain - the Union or the member states partial sovereignty sharing Three categories of powers are thus identified: Exclusive powers: in fields like the customs union, the common trade policy and competition, only the Union may legislate Supporting, coordinating or complementary action: in areas like culture, education and industry, the Union may only support action by the member states (by providing funding, for example) Shared powers: in other fields, like the environment, transport and consumer protection, the Union and the member states share lawmaking power, not forgetting subsidiarity.

13 What is the role of the European Commission 28 independent members, one from each EU country 4Proposes new legislation 4Executive organ 4Guardian of the treaties 4Represents the EU on the international stage

14 The European Commission HQ

15 Electing the President The President is proposed by the European Council on the basis of Qualified Majority Voting but has to receive the backing of the Parliament...

16 The College of Commissioners One Commissioner per Member State, appointed by their government, accepted by the President of the Commission and approved by the European Parliament after hearings in the relevant Committee Each Commissioner has a private office (cabinet) with a team drawn from 3 different Member States The College meets weekly on Wednesday morning, adopt decisions jointly and are jointly responsible for them Heads of Cabinet meet weekly on Mondays to prepare the Commissioners meeting

17 However, it cannot pass the laws it proposes In this sense, it is more than a civil service but less than a legislature The Commission's draft laws are revised and adopted by the Parliament and the Council National parliaments also scrutinise new draft legislation with an eye to subsidiarity and proportionality Consultative committees (Economic and Social Committee and Committee of the Regions) have opportunity to produce advisory opinions also

18 All three major institutions are involved in making EU law ordinary legislative procedure

19 So how EU laws are made? Citizens, interest groups, experts: discuss, consult Commission: makes formal proposal Parliament and Council of Ministers: decide jointly National or local authorities: implement Commission and Court of Justice: monitor implementation

20 Common and binding enforceable legislation means... That there is a body of EU Law which each country has to transpose into its own national legislature Working through the principles of Supremacy (it takes primacy over national law) and Direct Effect (local courts must be able to apply it) So in many ways the most significant EU institution is.

21 The Court of Justice upholding the law 28 independent judges, one from each EU country 4Rules on how to interpret EU law 4Ensures EU countries apply EU laws in the same way

22 European Commission: Guardian of the Treaties Policing the business community in the internal market In 2007, Commission imposed its largest ever fines for cartel violations. Four companies were fined 992 million for operating cartels for the installation and maintenance of lifts and escalators in Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. In March 2013, Microsoft was fined 561 million for failing to comply with its commitments to offer users a browser choice screen enabling them to easily choose their preferred web browser

23 The Commission has 32,666 staff (2013 figures) - Two thirds of them work in Brussels - Biggest Directorate-General is DEVCO, (11 % of staff), 7 % work in translation and 5 % in Research. DG CLIMA only has 0.5 % of staff. - Nationalities: Belgians (17%), Italians (11%), French (10%), Germans (almost 7%), UK (almost 4 %). Slovenia, Malta, Cyprus and Luxembourg 0.5% or less - Gender: 55 % of them are women - Ages: Mostly % are under 30 and < 5 % are aged 60 +

24 Directorate General in the European Commission European Commissioner Directorate General Agency Directorate Directorate Unit Unit Unit Unit

25 The various roles of DGs Some departments have an important coordinating role Some departments are able to apply many directives Some of the most important work is done by departments in the area of the single market

26 #Ideas4Europe

27 Watch more : 03/12/201

28 The EU has own resources its own budget to underpin policies Total EU annual budget 2012: billion euro.set in a seven year long term perspective the longest budgetary planning process in the world! represents about 1.12% of the Gross National Income of member states

29 The framework perspective for just qgreed All Member States and the European Parliament have had to agree to it. The current framework ends on 31/12/13 Sets maximum limits for annual budet proposals. Summit meeting on 9 th February proposed 905 billion EUROS and the European Parliament gave its final agreement to the package on 19th November.

30 The two largest budget items DG Agriculture and Rural Development (formerly DG Agriculture), manages the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) and now focuses more on general issues of rural life, including the quality of food produced, farming methods and greening the countryside (e.g; forestation, hedges). The other big spender through Structural Funds is DG REGIO, allocating funds for poorer regions of the EU, but with an emphasis on infrastructure development, promoting innovation, employment and growth. Together these account for two-thirds of the EU budget and are financially directly managed by Member States.

31 Administering the EU budget For set at 1.12 % of GNI

32 Where does the money come from? from?

33 Europe 2020 Europe's growth strategy EU leaders agreed in 2010 the overall strategy to get out of the economic crisis by means of: 4Smart growth Better education, more research, greater use of communication technologies 4Sustainable growth A resource - efficient, greener and more competitive economy 4Inclusive growth More and better jobs, investment in skills and training, modernisation of the labour market and welfare systems, spreading the benefits of growth to all parts of the EU 4Good economic governance Better coordination of economic policy

34 The five targets for the EU in 2020 Agreed in the Europe 2020 strategy: 4Employment 75% of year-olds to be employed 4Research and innovation 3% of the EU's GDP to be invested in research 4Climate change/energy Greenhouse gas emissions 20% lower than % of energy from renewables 20% increase in energy efficiency 4Education School drop-out rates below 10% 40% of year-olds completing third-level education 4Poverty 20 million fewer people in, or at risk of, poverty and social exclusion

35 European Year of Citizens 2013

36 Part of the wider agenda > 2014 Citizenship Report 5/2012-5/2013 European Year of Citizens 1/ /2013 Citizens' Dialogues 9/ /2013 New EU Commission EP elections June 2014 Citizens' dimension of the Europe 2020 Strategy > 2020 Debate with citizens, national parliaments, European political parties

37 The European Council Shipowner Van Rompuy Course and Direction The European Parliament and the EU Council Manouvreability and delivery (Regulations, Directives and budget) EU s 500 million citizens the passengers Welcome on a cruise with the M/S EU The crew under the command of captain Barroso The Commission civil servants The EU-treaties Size and Capacity

38 Thank you for your attention