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Birzeit University IALIIS. The European Parliament – a rising Star?. International Studies 735 The European Union: Unique phenomenon or relevant model?. THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT – A RISING STAR?. Felix Dane 24 November 2011. 1. The EP vis a vis other EU Institutions.
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Birzeit University IALIIS The European Parliament – a rising Star? International Studies 735The European Union: Unique phenomenon or relevant model? THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT – A RISING STAR? Felix Dane24 November 2011
1. The EP vis a vis other EU Institutions The European Parliament – a rising Star? OVERVIEW 2. The EP as an international Actor 3. Influencing the EP
1. The EP vis a vis other EU Institutions The European Parliament – a rising Star? OVERVIEW 2. The EP as an international Actor 3. Influencing the EP
The EP vis a vis other EU Institutions Accession Treaty other event Key Steps Towards Integration 2009 2007 2004 2003 Lisbon Treaty Romania, Bulgaria Eastern enlargement (10 Central and Eastern European countries) Nice Treaty 1993 1995 1999 Maastricht Treaty Single Market Austria, Finland Sweden Amsterdam Treaty Trading in Euro starts at stock exchanges 1986 1981/86 1979 1973 Single European Act Greece, Spain, Portugal Direct Elections to the EP European Monetary System Denmark, Great Britain, Ireland 1951 1957 1959 1962 1967 ECCS: France, Italy, Germany BENELUX Treaties of Rome Tariff Reductions European Agricultural Fund Merger Treaty
European Parliament 736 Members of Parliament elected in 27 Member States, 23 official languages decision-making process cooperation, codecision, approval governance budget, hearings, election of the president of the Commission + approval of the entire Commission approval of changes to EU-treaties, trade agreements etc. legal competences, almost equal to those of the Council except foreign policy no power of initiative The EP vis a vis other EU Institutions
Seating in the EP The EP vis a vis other EU Institutions
Weighting of Votes in Parliament A Regime of Degressive Proportionality The EP vis a vis other EU Institutions
EU Budget Expenditure 1958 – 2008 The EP vis a vis other EU Institutions
Parliament´s Budget Plan 2011 The EP vis a vis other EU Institutions
EP Work Plenary Sessions (Sub-)Committees Working groups Parliamentary groups Delegations The EP vis a vis other EU Institutions
One Parliament – Two Locations The EP vis a vis other EU Institutions Strasbourg Brussels
Council of the European Union (“Council”) representation of Member States rotating presidency + president of the Council (Herman Van Rompuy) increase in applying the qualified majority rule from 2014 onward, double majority representing 55% of the member states and 65% of the population Council of Foreign Ministers is the decision-making body in terms of EU foreign policy The EP vis a vis other EU Institutions
European Commission internally & externally represents and upholds the interests of the EU (guardian of the treaties) oversees, implements and enforces EU policies and laws power of initiative manages the EU’s budget and allocates funding more than 40 Directorates-General (DGs) and agencies The EP vis a vis other EU Institutions
2. The EP as an international Actor The European Parliament – a rising Star? OVERVIEW 1. The EP vis a vis other EU Institutions 3. Influencing the EP
European External Action Service (EEAS) objectives:to pool resources of foreign affairs and to align external actions serves as a foreign ministry and diplomatic corps for the EU recruitment of personnel from the member states, the Council and the Commission headed by High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (Catherine Ashton) + Vice President of the Commission The EP as an international Actor
International Activities EP Delegation Joint Parliamentary Assembly Assistance to non-EU Parliaments EP Election Observation Missions Budget on external Activities The EP as an international Actor
The European Parliament – a rising Star? OVERVIEW 1. The EP vis a vis other EU Institutions 2. The EP as an international Actor 3. Influencing the EP
Identifying Lobby-Work Transparency Register: 4051 registered Lobbyists, 1797 Interest Organisations Access only if registered Commit to the Code of Conduct Financial Structures of MEP Office: Virtual Office Allowance Influencing the EP
A Lobbyist´s Work The more Supranational Powers, the more EU-Lobbyists Provide Know-How Decode Impact Influencing the EP
Palestinian Influence Ambassador Leila Shahid Contact Committees / MEPs / Assistants Hearings Use of External Actors (NGOs, UNRWA, Pressure Groups) Influencing the EP
The European Parliament – a rising Star? THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT – A RISING STAR?