EU Institutions
The European Union (EU) is a family of democratic European countries, committed to working together for peace and prosperity. It is not a State intended to replace existing States, nor is it just an organisation for international cooperation. The EU is, in fact, unique. Its member states have set up common institutions to which they delegate some of their sovereignty so that decisions on specific matters of joint interest can be made democratically at European level.
The historical roots of the European Union lie in the Second World War. The idea was born because Europeans were determined to prevent such killing and destruction ever happening again. In the early years, the cooperation was between six countries and mainly about trade and the economy. Now the EU embraces 27 countries and about 490 million people, and it deals with a wide range of issues of direct importance for our everyday life.
Europe is a continent with many different traditions and languages, but also with shared values such as democracy, freedom and social justice. The EU defends these values. It fosters cooperation among the peoples of Europe, promoting unity while preserving diversity and ensuring that decisions are taken as close as possible to the citizens.
In the increasingly interdependent world of the 21st century, it is more necessary than ever for every European citizen to work together with people from other countries in a spirit of curiosity, openness and solidarity.
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Council of the EU
The Council is the main decision-making body of the European Union. The ministers of the member states meet within the Council of the European Union. Depending on the issue on the agenda, each country will be represented by the minister responsible for that subject (foreign affairs, finance, social affairs, transport, agriculture, etc.).
The Council is responsible for decision-making and co-ordination. It passes laws, usually legislating jointly with the European Parliament and co-ordinates the broad economic policies of the member states.
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Presidency of the Council
The Council is presided for a period of six months (from January to June, and from July to December) by each member state in turn, in accordance with a pre-established rota.
The Presidency of the Council plays an essential role in organising the work of the institution, particularly in promoting legislative and political decisions. It is responsible for organising and chairing all meetings, including the many working groups, and for brokering compromises.
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European Parliament
The European Parliament represents, in the words of the 1957 Treaty of Rome, ‘the peoples of the States brought together in the European Community’. With the recent enlargement of the EU to Bulgaria and Romania, some 490 million European citizens in 27 countries are now involved in the process of European integration through their 785 representatives in the European Parliament.
The members of the European Parliament for the... .
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European Commission
The Commission is the politically independent institution that represents and upholds the interests of the EU as a whole. It is the driving force within the EU’s institutional system: it proposes legislation, policies and programmes of action and it is responsible for implementing the decisions of Parliament and the Council. The Commission remains politically answerable to Parliament, which has the power to dismiss it by adopting a motion of censure.
A new Commission is appointed every five years, within six months of the elections to the European Parliament. The present Commission’s term of office runs until 31 October 2009. Its actual President is José Manuel Barroso. The Barroso Commission is composed by 27 commissioners from the 27 Member States and took office on 22 November 2004.
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EESC
The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) is organised civil society’s European-level institutional forum for consultation, representation and information. It enables representatives of Member States’ economic, social and civic organisations to play an integral part in the process of shaping policy and decisions at Community level. It serves mainly as a consultative body to advise the Council, the Commission and the European Parliament. This consultation is mandatory for those issues stipulated in the Treaties, but the Committee is also increasingly being asked to draw up exploratory opinions before proposals are adopted or policy decisions are taken. It can also issue opinions and draw up information reports on its own initiative. Further, the Committee is particularly active in external relations, creating and maintaining links with representatives of organised civil society in non-EU countries.
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02/02/2006
CoR
The Committee of the Regions (CoR) is the political assembly that provides local and regional authorities with a voice at the heart of the European Union. Established in 1994, the CoR was set up to address two main issues. Firstly, about three quarters of EU legislation is implemented at local or regional level, so it makes sense for local and regional representatives to have a say in the development of new EU laws. Secondly, there were concerns that the public was being left behind as the EU steamed ahead. Involving the elected level of government closest to the citizens was one way of closing the gap.
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CEMR
The Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) was founded in Geneva in 1951 by a group of European mayors; later, it opened its ranks to the regions and became the Council of European Municipalities and Regions. Today, it is the largest organisation of local and regional government in Europe; its members are national associations of towns, municipalities and regions from over 30 countries. Together these associations represent some 100,000 local and regional authorities. CEMR works to promote a united Europe that is based on local and regional self government and democracy. To achieve this goal it endeavours to shape the future of Europe by enhancing the local and regional contribution, to influence European law and policy, to exchange experience at local and regional level and to cooperate with partners in other parts of the world. CEMR works in many fields of activity such as regional policy, transport, the environment, equal opportunities, governance… Its committees and working groups seek to influence draft EU legislation to make sure the interests and concerns of local and regional authorities are taken into account from the earliest stages of the EU legislative process.
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