Council of the european union
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These slides where created as part of the European Union Course taught by Franziska Lindhout at Indian Institute of Technology Madras.
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Council of the european union
- 1. Ananth Saran Yalamarthy | Kapadi Saish Guruprasad
- 2. The Main Institutions of the European Union
- 5. - Subject of today’s discussion - Not to be confused with the European Council!
- 7. History OrganizationRole Configurations Decision Making 1 2 3 4 5
- 8. History
- 9. ECSC Special Council of ministers Treaties of Rome The Council of EAEC The Council of EEC
- 10. Merger Treaty(1967) ECSC's Special Council of Ministers Council of EEC Council of the EAEC Maastricht Treaty (1993) Council of EU
- 11. ECSC • Coordination between high authority and the member states • In some cases, monitoring the high authority ECSC to EEC • Commission set up to replace the High authority • Significant transferral of power in favor of the Council • Member states now had a greater say From SEA to Maastricht treaty • more decisions using qualified- majority voting in the Council Treaty of Nice • Weighting of votes in the Council A historical perspective on the role of Council
- 12. Role
- 13. 1 • Adopt proposals 2 • Initiate legislation concerning foreign and security policy 3 • Shape EU budget 4 • Coordinate national policies 5 • Conclude international agreements
- 14. Legislation The Decision-making triangle Council of ministers European Commission European Parliament Member states government Collective European interest EU citizens
- 15. Common Foreign and Security Policy Other policy areas(Ordinary Legislative Procedure) Intergovernmentalism 1 • Initiates new policy lines 2 • Coordination among member states 3 • High representatives may make proposal The Decision-making triangle European Commission European Parliament Council of Ministers
- 16. Budget Authorization Import duties Value Added Tax Transfer from Member States Sources Budget of 140 billion Euros Use of annual budget Agricultural Subsidies Development Common Foreign Policy Administration
- 17. The Decision- making triangle European Commission European Parliament Council of ministers Draft Budget Draft Budget Amendments Budget Adopted Conciliation Committee Ordinary Legislative Procedure
- 18. Coordination of national policies 1 • National competence retained 2 • Common goals set 3 • Open method of coordination 4 • Non binding policy guidelines
- 19. Other Roles Conclusion of International Agreements • With Non-EU countries and international organizations • Council may give a mandate to the European commission Common Foreign and Security Policies
- 20. Organization
- 22. Presidency of the Council Rotation after every 6 months Competent ministers of the presiding member state chair the respective council configurations
- 23. Presidency and its influence 1 • Administrative tasks 2 • Setting political priorities 3 • Mediate between other member states to resolve controversy 4 • Represents council in conciliation committee
- 25. Rotation of Presidencies: Good or Bad?
- 26. Rotation of Presidencies: Good or Bad? FOR AGAINST Allows leaders of member states to convene meetings and launch initiatives on issues of national interest EU is huge- so is the workload, difficult to handle for a small country such as Cyprus Allows countries/leaders to earn prestige and credibility Countries take nearly forever to get the presidency back- with 28 states, the waiting period is about 14 years!! Allows small EU countries to directly interact with other world leaders Makes the EU feel closer to home for the country holding the presidency
- 27. Regulations • Most Powerful • Directly applicable, binding in entirety •Take immediate effect on a specified date • Narrow in intent •Designed to adjust existing laws Directives • Binding in terms of goals •Member states need to decide how they will achieve those goals •Include a date by which action is expected •Member states need to inform Commission about their activities •Example: Directive to reduce pollution from large industrial plants Decisions • Binding in entirety, though fairly specific in intent • Aimed at specific member states, institutions, or even individuals •Make changes to powers of Institutions • Internal administrative matters •Example:. Setting standard prices for vegetables Recs & Opinions • No binding force! • Used to test reaction to a new EU policy • Used to persuade /provide interpretation on the application of regulations, directives and decisions •Example: Express a view to a member state
- 30. Peace and Security Sustainable Develpment Solidarity amongst citizens Free and Fair Trade Eradicate Poverty Human Rights Observe International Law Each council consists of national ministers of particular policy area Relevant Commissioner attends Frequency depends on importance of council issues
- 31. EU Enlargement Proposals for new laws Prepares the dossier for the European Council Coordinates the work of the other 9 configurations The most important council configuration Responsible for all policy areas that the rest of the configurations do not cover Responsible for the multi-annual budgetary perspective Action Areas
- 32. CFSP+CDSP Trade Development Cooperation Humanitarian Aid Action Areas Most Unique Configuration- Chaired by the “Foreign Minister for the EU”- The High Representative Sensitive area, hence voting is by unanimity instead of QMV Ministers try to agree on a “Common European Position” in all Foreign Policy Matters Unlike other decisions, the Parliament and the Commission have almost no say Example: The FAC held an emergency meeting on March 3rd ’ 2014 to oppose the Russian deployment of armed forces in Crimea.
- 33. Economic Policy Co-ordination Economic Surveillance Monitor Member States Budgets Monitor Public Finances Euro Financial Markets/Capital Movement Economic Relations with Third Countries Action Areas Voting happens by QMV, except for fiscal policy-Unanimity Prepares the budget along with the European Parliament Decisions regarding the Euro are only taken by countries which have the Euro as the currency
- 34. CAP Internal Market Rules Forestry Quality of food/food safety CFP Setting up of Total Allowable Catches(TAC) Quotas for each species Fishing effort limits Action Areas
- 35. Legislation Process: Prior to the Council
- 36. COUNCIL COREPER Heads of diplomatic missions from the member states to the EU-Prepare the meetings of the Council Chaired by the Presidency of the Council of the European Union Acts like a link between Brussels and National Governments-conveys views of national governments, and also keeps them up-to-date about the developments in Brussels
- 37. COREPER COREPER I COREPER IISpecialized Committees Working groups Specialized Committees Working groups Senior diplomats from EU Member States
- 38. COREPER II: Heads of Delegations I: Deputy Heads of Delegations Chair: Member State holding Presidency Lower ranking officials, specialized issues All issues not covered in COREPER II High ranking officials Most important issues concerning - External Relations - Economic Policy - Judicial Matters - Covers GAC, ECONFIN and JHA Both I and II prepare the council’s agenda, and try to reach a consensus on as many points as possible Both I and II prepare and perform a preliminary scrutiny of the council’s agenda, and try to reach a consensus on as many points as possible so that the council’s work is easy
- 39. COREPER Committees Working groups Council Committees and Working groups have significant indirect influence in decision making, as they are the people who make the initial standpoint on a legislation Committees Focus on highly specialized issues Political and Security Committee Special Committee on Agriculture(SCA Respond to suggestions made by the Parliament as part of OLP Working groups Made up of National Diplomats Around 200 to 300 groups work at any given point of time, on a wide array of issues Report directly to the COREPER or the SCA
- 40. Ultimately, the COREPER will influence how the Council will handle a certain matter Items in the Council’s agenda are divided into 3 categories: AItems The COREPER has reached a consensus. The Council does not need to discuss in detail. Council can still reject IItems No Ministerial decision is required B Items The COREPER has NOT reached a consensus. The Council needs to discuss Usually returned back!
- 41. Legislation Process: Within the Council
- 43. Commercial Competition Internal Market Default since treaty of Lisbon >90% of decisions Triple Majority - # Votes /Member State (>260/352) - # Member States (>15/28) - Population they represent (>62%) Double Majority (w.e.f Nov ‘14) - 1 vote per country - # Member States (>55%) - Population they represent (>65%) - Blocking Minority
- 44. CFSP Taxation Change Commission Proposals Amending Founding Treaties EU Expansion Seats of EU Institutions Tenet of Intergovernmentalism
- 45. Internal Council Rules Procedural Issues >15 out of 28 member states
- 46. Concept of the Council of the EU: Good or Bad?
- 47. Concept of the Council of the EU: Good or Bad? FOR AGAINST Enables decision-making to remain in the hands of state ministers Council meetings can happen in secret on issues that do not relate to legislation Council more accountable than Commission-ministers answerable to national parliaments QMV system means countries have decisions forced upon them Intergovernmental in nature, balances the supranational power of the EU "The EU is the only legislature in the world, except North Korea, that still makes laws in secret." - Open letter from British Conservative MEPs to the EU, September 2005.
- 48. Websites: http://www.eutraining.eu/demo.php?ID=Council%20final&course_id=7 http://dadalos.org/ www.wikipedia.com http://www.consilium.europa.eu/homepage https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Av2sI0dHXpQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-cRJr7mWw4 Books: Understanding the European Union: A Concise Introduction (The European Union Series) [Paperback]- John McCormick
- 49. THANK YOU!
- 50. COUNCIL Specialized Committees COREPER Working Groups Last step: Voting in the Council
- 51. Compromise Diplomacy Bargaining Decisions in the council heavily motivated by national political interests Views of ministers ideologically driven, authority will depend on the strength/ stability of the governing party at home Does not have the same structural regularity that the commission enjoys