TLDR;
This video explains the main institutions of the European Union (EU). It covers the roles, responsibilities, and compositions of five key institutions: the European Council, the European Commission, the European Parliament, the Council of the EU, and the European Court of Justice. The video details how these institutions function within the EU's legislative, executive, and judicial frameworks.
- The European Council sets the EU's political direction.
- The European Commission initiates legislation and ensures the implementation of EU laws.
- The European Parliament, elected by EU citizens, co-legislates with the Council of the EU.
- The Council of the EU, composed of national ministers, also co-legislates and coordinates policies.
- The European Court of Justice ensures EU law is uniformly interpreted and applied.
Introduction [0:00]
The video introduces the complexity of the EU's institutional framework and promises to simplify the understanding of its main institutions. It mentions that there are seven main institutions, with additional bodies to be discussed in a separate video. The focus will be on the first five main institutions in this video.
European Council [0:30]
The European Council defines the EU's overall political direction and priorities. It comprises the heads of state or government of the member states, along with the President of the European Commission and the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. The European Council is part of the executive branch and is based in Brussels. It is represented by a president, elected for a term of two and a half years, who prepares and chairs meetings and represents the EU at international summits, especially in foreign and security policy. The main task of the Council is to establish general guidelines for the EU's actions, known as conclusions, which provide specific instructions to the European Commission and the Council of the EU. The European Council does not directly participate in lawmaking.
European Commission [1:29]
The European Commission is often referred to as the EU's executive branch. It initiates legislation and is also based in Brussels. The Commission consists of 27 members, known as Commissioners, one from each member state. Among the Commissioners are the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Commission President, a First Vice-President, and five other Vice-Presidents. Each Commissioner is an expert in a specific area, similar to ministers in a national government. The Commissioners make decisions by majority vote. As the EU's driving force, the Commission initiates legislation and is the only institution that can propose laws. It is obligated to act in the Union's interest and can be prompted to act by the European Council, the European Parliament, or through citizen initiatives. The Commission also oversees the correct implementation of EU law, manages EU regulations, and represents the EU in international organizations.
European Parliament [2:52]
The European Parliament consists of directly elected members by EU citizens and is part of the legislative branch. Together with the Council of the EU, it is responsible for lawmaking. The Parliament is located in Strasbourg and is often called the citizens' chamber. Elections are held every five years through direct, universal, secret, and free suffrage. Any EU citizen can theoretically run for office via a list, which must be created through a democratic process, usually by political parties or other political organizations. Holding certain positions, such as prosecutor, judge, or member of a national parliament, is incompatible with being a Member of the European Parliament. The Parliament has three main tasks: lawmaking, adopting the budget together with the European Council, and providing consent for international agreements and EU accessions. It also has a supervisory role over the European Commission and can, in theory, force it to resign. There is no official language in the European Parliament; instead, proceedings occur in 24 different languages.
Council of the EU [4:12]
The Council of the EU, also known as the Council of Ministers or the States Chamber, is often simply referred to as "the Council." It is distinct from the European Council. The Council of the EU comprises specialized ministers from the national governments of the member states. It is based in Brussels and is responsible for lawmaking together with the European Parliament. The Council of the EU does not have permanent members; instead, each member state sends a specific minister depending on the topic being discussed. There are ten different configurations of the Council of the EU, including councils for economy, environment, youth, and agriculture. Each council is chaired by a rotating presidency that changes every six months, except for the Council of the EU for Foreign Affairs, which is always chaired by the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. The Council of the EU has six tasks: lawmaking with the European Parliament, adopting the EU budget with the Parliament, coordinating economic policies of the member states, developing foreign and security policy, concluding agreements with member states and third countries, and appointing members of the European Court of Auditors, the European Economic and Social Committee, and the European Committee of the Regions.
European Court of Justice [6:04]
The European Court of Justice (ECJ) is the judicial branch of the EU. It is based in Luxembourg, and its judges are directly appointed by the member states, with each state providing at least one judge. As the highest court, the ECJ ensures the uniform application and interpretation of EU law, overseeing the application and interpretation of treaties. The ECJ is not solely a constitutional court that reviews legislation but also functions as an administrative court, a labor and social court, and a criminal and civil court.
Summary [6:45]
The EU consists of seven main institutions. The European Council, composed of the heads of state or government of the member states, sets the guidelines for the EU's political actions. The European Commission, with its 27 Commissioners, initiates legislation. The European Council and the European Commission together form the executive branch of the EU. The European Parliament, made up of directly elected members, and the Council of the EU, consisting of national government ministers, are responsible for lawmaking and the EU budget, forming the legislative branch. The European Court of Justice, composed of judges appointed by the member states, ensures the EU law is correctly interpreted and applied, representing the judicial branch.
