EU and the Czech Republic EU Institutions

1. EU and the Czech RepublicEU Institutions Milena Vicenová CULS Prague, November 2013

2. Structure of My Presentation • European Parliament • European Council • Council • European Commission • Court of Justice of the European Union • European Central Bank • Court of Auditors

3. EU Symbols • "United in diversity" is the motto of the European Union • Europe Day held on 9 May • European flag • European anthem "Ode to Joy„

4. European Parliament • Debating and passing European laws, with the Council (Co-decision) • Debating and adopting the EU's budget, with the Council • Important political control, scrutinising other EU institutions • 754 MEPs without HR, today 766 • Minimum six MEPs per member state • Maximum 99 (96) MEPs • Directly elected every five years. Next elections (already 8th) 22-25 May 2014

5. European Parliament • Czech Republic represented by 22 MEPs

6. European Parliament

7. European Council • Lisbon Treaty – EC is a body which "shall provide the Union with the necessary impetus for its development". • It defines the EU's policy agenda • It comprises: • Heads of state or government of the EU member states • President of the European Commission • President of the European Council • Catherine Ashton (HR) takes part in its meetings

8. European Council • President of the European Council Herman van Rompuy of Belgium • Elected for a once-renewable term of two and a half years • Meetings - chaired by its president - at least twice every six months • Decision preferablyby consensus

9. European Council

10. Council • One of two chambers of EU legislature (the other being the European Parliament) • Representing executives of EU member states • Budgetary function (with European Parliament) • Minister for the policy field being discussed • 10 Council configurations • Presidency of member states (except FAC)

11. Council • Prepares meetings of the European Council • COREPER - body composed of representatives from the member states • meetings each week • Decisions of the Council by: • simple majority • qualified majority • unanimity

12. Council

13. Council • EuropeanCouncil = new EU institution • Council = 10 configurations • CouncilofEurope is not atallan EU Institution!

14. European Commission Represents and upholds the interests of the EU as a whole Oversees and implements EU policies • proposing new laws to Parliament and the Council • managing the EU's budget • enforcing EU law (together with the Court of Justice) • representing the EU internationally

15. European Commission • All Member states are represented • 5 years term • President approved by the European Parliament (simple majority) • Each Commissioner is assigned responsibility for specific policy areas • Current President of the European Commission is José Manuel Barroso

16. European Commission

17. Court of Justice of the European Union Interprets EU law to make sure it is applied in the same way in all EU countries • Court of Justice (created in 1952), the highest court in the EU legal system; one judge per EU country • General Court (created in 1988; formerly the Court of First Instance) • Number of specialised courts, e.g. the Civil Service Tribunal (created in 2004) Each judge and advocate-general is appointed for a term of six years Seat in Luxembourg

18. Court of Justice

19. European Central Bank • Central bank for the euro • Administers monetary policy of 17 member states of Eurozone • One of the world's most important central banks • Primary objective is maintaining price stability within the eurozone • Exclusive right to authorise the issuance of euro banknotes • Since 1 Novembersupervisionof 130 eurozone banks

20. European Central Bank

21. Eurozone Members

22. Court of Auditors • Audits EU finances • Improves EU financial management • Acts as the independent guardian of the financial interests of the citizens • Annual report on the previous financial year (the 'annual discharge'). • One member per each member state • Seat in Luxembourgh

23. Court of Auditors