EU The European Union Its Development and Institutions & Life in Brussels

EU

The European UnionIts Development and Institutions

&Life in Brussels

EU History of European Integration

Single European Act 1986 (1987)

Schuman- Plan1950

ECSC1951 (1952)

Treaties of Rome Formation of EEC+

Euratom1957 (1958)

6 Member States

Treaty on the European Union

(Maastricht)1992 (1993)

Treaty of Amsterdam 1997 (1999)

Treaty of Nice (2000)

EU Enlargement of the UnionFounding Members: Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands

1973: Denmark, Ireland, United Kingdom

1981: Greece1986: Portugal, Spain1995: Austria, Finland,

Sweden2004: Estonia, Latvia,

Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Cyprus

2007: Bulgaria, Rumania

EU The Three Pillars of the EU

EU European Union

Eu

rop

ean

Co

mm

uniti

es

EC

EC

CS

* E

ura

tom

Co

mm

on

For

eig

n a

nd

Se

curi

ty P

olic

y

Po

lice

and

Ju

dic

ial C

o-

ope

ratio

n in

Crim

ina

l M

atte

rs

* The ECSC Treaty ceased to exist in 2002

EU

Basic Freedoms

The Four Freedoms of the Single Market

Free Movement of Goods

• Prohibition of customs duties between Member States

• Harmonisation and mutual recognition of rules and regulations

• Certain restrictions are still permitted

EU

Basic Freedoms


Free Movement of Persons

• Abolition of border controls• Freedom of residence and employment (mutual

recognition of diplomas)• Under certain conditions EU-citizens have the

right to reside in any other Member state even after the end of their employment

EU

Basic Freedoms


Free Movement of Services

• Free movement of services (e.g.: Free choice of phone provider)

• Harmonisation of bank and traffic supervision • Opening of transport and telecommunications

markets

EU

Basic Freedoms


Free Movement of Capital

• More freedom for monetary and capital movements

• Steps towards a common market for financial services (e.g.: no double transfer fees)

• Liberalisation of stock broking (security trading)

EUHistory of the Economic and

Monetary Union (EMU)

Euro-Cash-implementation

01.01.2002

First Stage: Complete liberalisation of capital movement; intensified cooperation of national Central Banks; free application of ECU;

improvement of economic convergence.

Second Stage: Establishment of the European Monetary Institute; prohibition of Central Bank credits to public bodies; intensified co-ordination of monetary policy; intensified economic convergence; process leading to the independence of national central banks completed with the creation of the European System of Central Banks; preparatory work for the third stage.

Third Stage: irrevocable fixing of exchange rates; implementation of the Euro; implementation of a single monetary policy under the authority of the ECB; set-up of the exchange rate mechanism (ERM II) within the EU; set-up of the stability and growth pact.

EMU(first stage)

1990

EMU(second stage)

1994

EMU(third stage)1997/1999

EU

The Convergence Criteria

The Convergence Criteria

Inflation rate must not exceed that of the 3 best performing Member states of the EU by more than 1.5 percentage points

Applicant states should have joined the exchange-rate mechanism (ERM II) for 2 consecutive years and should not have devaluated their currencies during the 2-year-period

The nominal long-term interest rate must not be more than 2 percentage points higher than the 3 best performing Member States

The ratio of the annual government deficit to gross domestic product (GDP) must not exceed 3% .

The ratio of gross government debt to GDP must not exceed 60% .

EU

The Institutions of the EU

European Council(EC)


EuropeanParliament

(EP)

EuropeanParliament

(EP)

Council of the European Union

(Council)


(Council)

European Economic and Social Committee

(EESC)


(EESC)

European Court of Justice

(ECJ)


(ECJ)

European Court of Auditors


Committee of the Regions

(CoR)


(CoR)

European Investment Bank(EIB)

---------------------------European Investment

Fund(EIF)



Fund(EIF)

Decentralised Bodies(e.g.: Europol)


European System of Central Banks

(ESCB)----------------------------

European Central Bank(ECB)


(ESCB)----------------------------


European Commission

(EC)

European Commission

(EC)

Advisory Committees Other bodies Institutions with special status

EU

The European Council

• The European Council consists of the Heads of State and Government of all Member States together with the President of the European Commission

• The European Council generally meets four times a year to set the basic political guidelines and to review progress.

• Since the European Council became the supreme political authority of the EU, its meetings have been referred to as „summits“.



EU




EuropeanParliament

(EP)

EuropeanParliament

(EP)


(Council)


(Council)


(EESC)


(EESC)


(ECJ)


(ECJ)




(CoR)


(CoR)



Fund(EIF)



Fund(EIF)




(ESCB)----------------------------



(ESCB)----------------------------


European Commission

(EC)

European Commission

(EC)

Advisory CommitteesOther bodies Institutions with special status

EU

Competences of the European

Parliament

Budget Control of the Executive

Legislation

• Hearing• Co-operation• Co-decision• Consultation

785 MEPs

The European Parliament has three basic powers and functions:

The European Parliament

EU




EuropeanParliament

(EP)

EuropeanParliament

(EP)


(Council)


(Council)


(EESC)


(EESC)


(ECJ)


(ECJ)




(CoR)


(CoR)



Fund(EIF)



Fund(EIF)




(ESCB)----------------------------



(ESCB)----------------------------


European Commission

(EC)

European Commission

(EC)


EU

Powers of the Council Council

of the

European

Union

Together with the EP the Council is the legislativebody of the Community.

The Council develops the Common Foreign and Security Policy according to the principles elaborated by the European Council.

The Council coordinates the cooperation between the national courts and police forces.

The Council and the EP agree on a budget for the Community.

The Council coordinates the economic policies of the member states.

The Council concludes international agreements between the community and one or several states or international organisations.

The Council of the European The Council of the European Union Union

EU

Voting weights in the council

Belgien [12]

Denmark [7]

Germany [29]

Estonia [4]

Finland [7]

France [29]

Greece [12]

United Kingdom [29]

Ireland [7]

Italy [29] Latvia [4] Lithuania [7]

Luxembourg [4]

Malta [3]

Netherlands [13]

Austria [10]

Poland[27]

Portugal [12]

Sweden [10]

Slowakia [7]

Slowenia [4]

Spain[27]

Czech Rep.[12]

Hungary[12]

Cyprus[4]


• The Council is the main decision-making body of the European Union

• Every country is represented by the minister responsible for the policy area being discussed (Foreign Affairs, Finances, Social issues, Traffic, Agriculture, etc. )

• The presidency rotates between the member states every 6 months.

255 of 345 votes (72,3%) are necessary for a qualified majority. Additionally the majority of

the Member States needs to approve the proposal.

A member can request a verification that the countries supporting the proposal represent at least 62% of the total EU population.

Bulgaria[10]

Romania [14]

EU




EuropeanParliament

(EP)

EuropeanParliament

(EP)


(Council)


(Council)


(EESC)


(EESC)


(ECJ)


(ECJ)




(CoR)


(CoR)



Fund(EIF)



Fund(EIF)




(ESCB)----------------------------



(ESCB)----------------------------


European Commission

(EC)

European Commission

(EC)


EU

The Commission

The Commission consists of 27 commissioners from 27 states (including the president and five vice presidents).

Every commissioner has one vote.

The commission is a collectivedecision-making body.Therefore minorities are bound by the decisions of the majority. Also in case of a future enlargement the number of commissioners should not exceed 27.

The term of office is five years.

EU

The Election of the Commissioners

Heads of States and Governments

Appoint with qualified majority

Commission President

Needs approval by

EP

Member States

Propose Commissioners

Heads of States and Government

Commission President

+Appoint Commissioners

Need approval by

EP

Commission takes up its work.

EU

The functions of the Commission

EC

Since there is no European government, the Commission holds executive power.

The Commission holds the legislative initiative.

The Commission is the „guardian of the treaties“. It has to ensure the implementation of treaties and decisions made by the EU.

The Commission elaborates a draft budget and administers the EU funds.

The Commission represents the interests of the EU in negotiations with the council or third countries.

The Commission conducts the negotiations with candidate states.

EU

The Directorates- General of the Commission

Policy Areas External Relations General Services

Internal Services

Employment and Social Affairs

Justice and Security

Humanitarian Aid Publications Office Interpretation

Education and Culture

Agriculture External Relations Europ. Anti-fraud Office

Budget

Single Market Regional Policy Development Eurostat Informatics

Transport and Energy

Taxation and Customs Union

Enlargement Secretariat General Internal Audit Service

Fisheries Environment EuropeAid –

Co-operation Office

Communication Legal Service

Research Enterprises and Industry

Trade Personnel and Administration

Health and Consumer Protection

Competition Bureau of European Policy

Advisers

Joint Research Centre

Economic and Financial

Affairs

Translation

Information Society and Media

Directorates-General of the Commission

EU




EuropeanParliament

(EP)

EuropeanParliament

(EP)


(Council)


(Council)


(EESC)


(EESC)


(ECJ)


(ECJ)




(CoR)


(CoR)



Fund(EIF)



Fund(EIF)




(ESCB)----------------------------



(ESCB)----------------------------


European Commission

(EC)

European Commission

(EC)


EU

The Court of Justice and

the Court of first instance

• The ECJ is made up of one judge per Member State and 8 Advocates General

• The ECJ may sit in chambers of 3, 5 or 13 judges, and in very exceptional cases as a full Court.

• The Judges and Advocates General are nominated by the Member States by mutual agreement for a period of six years.

• The Court of First Instance was established in 1989 and corresponds approximately to the ECJ, but does not have permanent Advocates General

• The Courts preserve the community right when treaties are being interpreted and implemented.

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) and the Court of First Instance

EU




EuropeanParliament

(EP)

EuropeanParliament

(EP)


(Council)


(Council)


(EESC)


(EESC)


(ECJ)


(ECJ)




(CoR)


(CoR)



Fund(EIF)



Fund(EIF)

Decentralised Bodies(f.ex. Europol)

Decentralised Bodies(f.ex. Europol)


(ESCB)----------------------------



(ESCB)----------------------------


European Commission

(EC)

European Commission

(EC)


EU

The Economic

and Social

Committee

and

the Committee

of the

Regions

• The ESC consists of representatives of different economic and social organisations of civil society.

• The CoR is made up of representatives of local and regional authorities.

• Both make advisory statements to the other institutions. • The ESC comprises 344 members who are appointed for four

years and can be re-elected. (between 6 and 24 per member state, depending on its size).

• With the Treaty of Nice the number of members has been limited to 350.

Economic and Social Committee and Committee of the Regions

EU

• Primary Legislation (Treaties)• Secondary LegislationThe Legal System

of the EU

Legal Sources ofCommunity Law

Institutional Acts of the EU• Regulations• Directives• Decisions• Recommendations and Opinions

EU

The Constitution

Major Points

• Simplification

• Democracy

• Transparency

• Efficiency

• Legitimacy

The Outcomes of the Constitutional Treaty

EU

The Constitution


• The EU acquires a legal personality• General application of legislative

procedure• Minor number of instruments • Clearer division of competencies (EU,

member states)• Charter of fundamental rights is part of

the Treaty• Open sessions of the Council in its role

as legislator

EU

The Constitution • Reinforcement of the role of national Parliaments (e.g.: control of the application of the Principle of Subsidiarity)

• Consideration of civil society aspects• Well-balanced institutional system• Restriction of the right of veto• Improvements in the areas of freedom,

security and justice• Reinforcement of the role of the Union on the

international stage


EU

The Constitution • The Reform Treaty only amends the existing treaties and those will not have a constitutional character

• The foreign minister will be renamed "High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy"

• The “Charter of Fundamental Rights” is no part of the Treaty but will still be legally binding

• No more EU-Symbols (Flag and Hymn)

Changes with the Reform Treaty

EU

Life in Brussels • Staying in Brussels: General Information

• The right to vote• Housing• Health care• Mobility• Leisure• Brussels – the capital region

Life in Brussels

EU

Life in Brussels • Short-term stay (< 3 months)

= Passport or ID Card

• Long-term stay (> 3 months)

= Residence permit (also valid for family members)

Staying in Brussels: General Information

EU

Life in Brussels

Every European citizen, irrespective of nationality, has the right to vote in municipal elections and European Parliament elections throughout Europe.

The right to vote

EU

Life Brussels • Sufficient supply of accommodation • The following websites have a broad

selection of properties to rent or buy:

www.immoweb.be

www.vlan.be

www.pap.be

www.entre-particuliers.be

Housing

EU

Life in Brussels • Sophisticated and efficient health care system

• Health insurance is obligatory • Additional health care cover is possible• Doctors and dentists can be found on the

website www.mgbru.be or via consulates and embassies

• Wide choice of public and private hospitals

• Emergency number: 100 or 112

Health Care

EU

Life in Brussels • Metro, tram and buswww.stib.bewww.infotec.bewww.delijn.be

• Taxiwww.taxi.irisnet.be/en/

all.html• Train

www.b-rail.be

Mobility

EU

Life in Brussels • Cultural Lifewww.agenda.be

• Going out - Bars and Restaurantswww.brusselsinternational.bewww.resto.be

• Fashionhttp://www.modobruxellae.be

Leisure

EU

Life in Brussels • 19 municipalities

• 6 police zones

• The region

• The capital of Belgium

• A bilingual city

Brussels – the capital region

EU

Life in Brussels The capital of Europeapprox. 15 000 lobbyists in Brussels

Brussels – the capital region

Think Tanks1%

Handelskammern2%

Regionen5%

Nationale Interessengruppen

7%

Drittstaaten und internationale

Organisationen12%

Anwälte und Berater15%

Unternehmen16%

Europäische Interessengruppen

42%

EU

Life in Brussels The following links will give you extra information:

www.bruxelles.irisnet.be

www.blbe.be

www.belgopocket.be

Life in Brussels

EU Thank you!

Documents

EU The European Union Its Development and Institutions & Life in Brussels