The European Union is a bloc of 28 member countries that has established itself as an influential economic, social and political force in the global arena. The EU has its own governing system, which consists of three main institutions –the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union and the European Commission.
Each of these bodies is composed of representatives from each of the member countries and has distinct responsibilities for the functioning of the European Union as a whole. In this article, we will explore the roles, functions, and powers of the Parliament, Council and Commission, and look at how they share their authority in order to effectively implement policies and legislation on behalf of the European Union.
The European Parliament
The European Parliament (EP) is the democratically elected branch of the European Union. It is composed of elected officials from each of the 28 member-countries, called Members of the European Parliament or MEPs. As the only institution that is directly elected by the citizens of the EU, the EP serves as a democratic representation of the people’s interests. The main functions of the Parliament are to review, amend and approve European laws, the EU budget and international trade agreements on behalf of the citizens of the European Union. Furthermore, the EP has the ability to initiate laws and hold the European Commission to account.
The Council of the European Union
The Council of the European Union, sometimes known as the Council of Ministers, is the chief legislative body of the EU. It is composed of ministers from each member-state that is represented in the Parliament, and is the main decision-making body in the EU. The Council’s responsibilities include the coordination of economic, social, military and foreign policies between the member countries. It is also responsible for setting the overall direction of the European Union, approving and adopting the EU budget and negotiating and signing international agreements on behalf of the EU.
The European Commission
The European Commission (EC) is an independent executive body of the EU and is responsible for proposing new laws and policies, overseeing their implementation and monitoring their progress. The EC also has regulatory powers in certain areas such as competition and consumer protection. Moreover, it can also propose and negotiate international agreements. The commission is composed of one member from each member-state, and they are nominated by their respective governments. The President of the European Commission is elected by the Parliament and has the power to fire or appoint other Commission members.
Sharing of Authority in the European Union
The European Union is based on the principle of the separation of powers, meaning that the three governing institutions — the Parliament, Council, and Commission — share the legislative, executive and judicial responsibilities for the EU as a whole. This ensures that no single body has too much power and encourages cooperation between the institutions.
For example, before an EU law can be implemented, it must be approved by the Parliament and the Council, and then implemented by the European Commission. The Council and the EP can also challenge European Commission proposals on the basis of their legislative powers or the primacy of member state law.
Furthermore, the Parliament, Council and Commission share decision-making powers in certain areas, such as the appointment of judges to the European Court of Justice and the election of commissioners. This ensures that each body is properly represented and that their interests are taken into account in the decision-making process.
The institutions and governance of the European Union — the Parliament, Council and Commission — are an example of a successful tripartite governing system. Each of the three bodies has distinct responsibilities and powers, but they must also cooperate and share their authority in order to achieve the EU’s overall goals of economic, social and political integration. By understanding the roles and functions of the Parliament, Council and Commission, we can gain a better understanding of the European Union and the way it governs itself.
