EU institutions: structure, classification, functions and tasks

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:40

Over time, humanity began to understand that living in a union is much easier and safer than apart. Gradually, the disunity of peoples began to be replaced by cooperation and merging into single states. They, which were previously patchwork quilts, overcame feudal fragmentation. Later, large-scale alliances began to form, countries began to enter blocs in order to ensure their security and prosperity. The degree and quality of integration grew.

By the end of the 20th century, one of the most powerful and influential economic and political associations in the world, the European Union, could be observed in Europe. This is a complex association in terms of its structure: the structure of the EU institutions is extremely branched and can seem quite confusing.

What is the EU?

The European Union (or EU for short) is an integration association in Europe, which currently includes 28 states. It covers an area of 4.3 million km² and is home to just over 500 million people. Officially, the EU appeared in 1993 after signing a year earlier 12states of the Maastricht Treaty. The history of European integration, however, began much earlier. At the moment, the European Union is considered the only international entity that has managed to achieve the 4th stage of integration, that is, the creation of a full-fledged economic union.

Economic aspect

The European Union also plays an important role in the global economy, contributing 23% of the world's GDP. Within the framework of the European Union itself, a common market was created in order to facilitate trade, the movement of goods and services between member countries. The EU states are distinguished by stable rates of economic development and large scale exports and imports. Germany can be recognized as the most economically developed country of the European Union in many respects.

The euro has been the single currency since 2002, but not on the territory of all 28 states, but only 19, since this is the amount that is included in the eurozone. The political and economic functioning of the union is possible thanks to the activities of the 7 EU institutions. One of the main goals set for the European Union is to continue the process of regional integration.

Beginning history

The signing of the Maastricht Treaty is far from being the first rung of the ladder that the European integration process has climbed. Similar moods and unification tendencies were observed in European society even before the Second World War, which were embodied in the movement of pan-Europeanism. The official date for the start of integration was 1951, the year the Paris Treaty was signed. Then the countriesIn the Benelux region, the ECSC was founded - an economic organization that aimed at the joint production of coal and steel. Later, in 1957, in order to expand economic cooperation, the EEC and Euratom were formed by signing the Treaty of Rome.

In 1967, these three regional organizations were merged under the leadership of the European Commission and the Council of the EU. They became the first in the system of EU institutions. Six years later, the first enlargement of the European Union took place: it included Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom. Greece joined in 1981. Four years later, the Schengen zone was created in Europe, which abolished passport control between the participating countries on its territory. Greece joins the EU in 1986. From 1995 to 2013, several enlargements of the European Union are carried out, 16 states adjoin it. During this period, the euro enters circulation - the Eurozone was formed in 1999.

Institutions, bodies and institutions in the EU

The first institutions in Europe within the framework of the union began their activities in the 60s of the XX century. Over time, their number increased and at the moment seven institutional and about twenty non-institutional bodies are involved in promoting the ideas and values of the European Union, ensuring its functioning. The Treaty of Lisbon between EU member states, which entered into force in 2009, marked the birth of the Treaty on European Union. It not only regulates domestic and foreign policy, the legislation of the European Union through the principles prescribed in it, but alsohighlights the institutions responsible for carrying out these activities.

Under the institutions and bodies of the EU are those bodies of the European Union that are responsible for the implementation of the key tasks assigned to it on a regional and global scale. The rights of institutions are marked and enshrined in the Treaty establishing the EU, signed in 1957. The seven institutions should not be confused with the EU agencies, as the latter are decentralized bodies with their own tasks. These bodies include the European agencies for the environment, food safety, medicines and others. In total, there are more than twenty of them.

European Parliament

He, together with the Council of the EU, is the legislative branch of government. Being one of the most important institutions of the EU, it holds the legislative power within the entire association. The seats in the parliament are designed for 750 deputies who have the right to vote, and one seat for the chairman, who does not have one. They represent the interests of their state and defend their views through political factions. In parliament, more than half of the seats belong to the two most powerful factions: the People's Party and the Alliance of Socialists and Democrats. Until 1979, deputies were elected by nation-states, but now by citizens of the European Union. The list of deputies is updated every five years.

The key tasks of the European Parliament includeformation of the EU budget. A significant share of the budget (about 40%) goes to the implementation of the common agricultural policy. Parliament also has legislative and supervisory functions. The first is expressed in the adoption of laws and various directives, the resolution of issues of legal regulation. The second is under the control of the European Commission. He can accept or reject the results of the convocation of deputies, and also has the right to appoint the President of the European Commission.

European Council

It was founded in 1974 on the initiative of the President of the French Republic. The council includes all the heads of the EU member states and their governments. It also requires the presence of the Presidents of the European Commission and, accordingly, the President of the European Council itself. He, as of 2018, is Donald Tusk. The Council meets to discuss pressing issues quite often - about four times a year or more.

The key task of one of the main institutions of the EU represented by the European Council is to develop a strategy for the development of the entire integration association. It manifests itself, first of all, in ensuring the competitiveness of the European economy, as well as in promoting the idea of further European integration in political aspects. The European Council takes the most important decisions for the European Union, they look like plans. So, for example, the famous Lisbon strategy was developed by him.

Council of the European Union

This institution and body of the EU should not be confused with the European Council, as they have completely different rights, tasks, and a different structure. In the hands of the EU Council on an equal footingwith the European Parliament is the legislature. He is also responsible for conducting a competent foreign policy, ensuring the internal security of the entire association. It is in his power to reject most of the introduced legal acts.

As for the composition, the EU Council includes representatives of the participating countries, but not only heads, but also members of governments in positions not lower than a minister. From time to time the Council meets from the heads of state. He deals with the solution of those issues on which no decision or compromise was reached in the working groups, and then in the Committee of Permanent Representatives. Voting is based on the qualified majority principle. It is attended by representatives from EU Member States, one from each country.

European Commission

As the highest governing body, the European Commission began its work at the very beginning of the emerging European Union - in 1951. Since then, its functions have changed significantly. In the classification of EU institutions, it represents the executive branch of power and is responsible for exercising control over the effectiveness of the implementation of decisions proposed by the EU Council and the European Parliament. It consists of 28 members - one commissioner from each EU country. Each of them ensures the productivity of the body and promotes the values of the state from which it was sent.

The commission also bears responsibility for the preparation of bills - it is obliged to implement them if they are approved by representatives of the legislativeauthorities. It also carries out diplomatic functions, ensuring cooperation between the European Union and the rest of the world. The key feature of the European Commission is that only this body has the right to present bills to the European Parliament. The main focus of the commission is usually directed to the economic sphere.

CJEU

Founded back in 1952, it is now an EU institution that represents the judiciary. It includes the highest level of the European judicial system, the court itself. Next in descending order is the tribunal, followed by the specialized tribunals. All links of the judicial system can act as links of the first instance. The EU Court of Justice has its own structure, which includes three elements: the President, Advocates General, Plenum and Chambers.

The chairman is elected for a term of three years, his main task is to oversee the activities of the court. He also has the right to convene plenary sessions and suspend cases. Now in this institution of the EU and Europe, the largest countries (there are six of them) have their own permanent lawyer. The chambers were created as special units in order to increase the productivity of the court and the number of resolved cases.

European Court of Auditors

This institution was established in 1975 to audit the European budget. As in some other EU institutions, the Chamber of Accounts has 28 representatives. From eachof the participating country must be attended by one person who has sufficient competencies for this position. Each representative is appointed by the EU Council for a term of six years.

The main functions of the Accounts Chamber include: fixing cash flows sent to and from the budget; assessing the performance of financial management and providing support to the European Parliament in the framework of the implementation of the European budget. Every year, the Accounts Chamber draws up and presents reports on the work carried out. During this year, the chamber's auditors evaluate the effectiveness of budget allocation by visiting EU countries and countries receiving financial assistance from it.

European Central Bank

Located in Germany, it is the main bank of the Eurozone. The ECB has full autonomy and is independent from other EU bodies. Its main tasks include: control of gold and foreign exchange reserves; the issuance of the euro into circulation; development of interest rates; ensuring price stability in the euro area. The key figure in the financial policy of the EU is the central bank, but the whole system also includes the national banks of the EU member states. The established system of central banks is responsible for monetary policy throughout the Eurozone.

Control of the money supply in the Eurozone also lies on the shoulders of this EU institution. He is engaged in its distribution among various financial institutions, companies and the state. The ECB has four types of operations: basic and long-termrefinancing operations; fine tuning and structural. As part of refinancing, the Central Banks give loans to commercial banks, and they, in turn, issue securities to the Central Bank as collateral. The last two types of transactions include not only loans, but also the purchase of securities.

Chamber of Auditors

Proper distribution of the European budget, as well as control over financial receipts into it, is a rather difficult task. Auditors help the Accounts Chamber in this matter. The Chamber of Auditors is an EU institution only within the framework of the Accounts Chamber, but at the same time it functions without looking back at the activities of other institutions. Its members, who serve as auditors, are elected for six years. Their main task is to carry out inspections of various institutions, bodies, foundations and individuals who receive funding from the EU budget. Their goal is to prevent corruption from flourishing in the EU. Any observed violations must be reported to higher authorities. Auditors are not allowed to engage in any other activity and receive unofficial remuneration for their work.

General conclusion

The European Union as an integration association appeared not so long ago, despite more than 50 years of political and economic integration. This is a fairly large territory, which is represented by 28 Member States. It is not easy to exercise control on such a huge scale, therefore, from the founding of the very first associations (ECSC, Euratom and EEC), the participating countries were in dire need of supranational institutions andorgans. The first were founded already in the early 1950s. Gradually their number grew. The functions of EU institutions, bodies and institutions were expanded and modified. As a result of more than 70 years of the formation of European associations, at the moment the European Union has 7 specialized institutions, the purpose of which is the political and economic functioning of the association of European countries. This is also ensured by more than 20 non-institutional bodies operating throughout the EU.