Institutional context • The European institutions

Note: this page contains the French text called ‘éléments de cadrage sur l’Europe’, from Christiane Crépin on CAIRN Info (2013)

The European Union is a unique economic and political partnership comprising 27 European countries in 2021. The Treaty on European Union, which has been regularly updated since 1951, has since been broken down into constituent treaties, accession treaties, protocols, etc. The EU budget is partly financed by a percentage of the gross national income of each member country. It helps to improve the situation of the Union’s less-favoured regions and finances activities such as rural development, environmental protection, border controls and the defence of human rights. The Union’s objective is European integration.

Seven official institutions give concrete expression to this partnership.

1) The European Commission
The European Commission is made up of 27 members appointed by national governments for a 5-year term. Each country has a Commissioner, appointed for a ‘sector’ that could be likened to a ‘ministry’ (agriculture, transport, industry, competition, etc). Commissioners are appointed with the approval of the European Parliament. The Commission represents and defends the interests of the European Union, implements and manages the Union’s policies, and proposes legislation to the Council of the Union and the Parliament, which share decisions. Together with the European Court of Justice, it ensures that European law is applied. It manages the EU budget and grants funding (for example, it supports the Erasmus student exchange programme). Organised into advisory groups, it relies on experts and public consultations. The European Commission represents the EU internationally, negotiates agreements between the EU and other countries, and is represented in EU countries and world capitals. It has its headquarters in Brussels and Luxembourg.

2) The European Parliament
The European Parliament is made up of 720 MEPs elected every 5 years by direct universal suffrage, representing the citizens of the European Union. Nationalities are represented according to the number of inhabitants, and MEPs are equally divided between men and women (more than a third are women). The European Parliament, together with the Council of the European Union, examines and adopts the EU budget and legislative acts, and monitors the activities and democratic functioning of the European Union, in particular the European Commission. It has its headquarters in Brussels and Strasbourg, and its general secretariat in Luxembourg.

3) The Council of the European Union
It brings together the government ministers of the 27 EU Member States to adopt legislation, coordinate policies, vote on the EU’s annual budget and define common foreign policy. The national governments defend the interests of the Member States. Every six months, a different country holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union, which is based in Brussels. This ensures that the Council operates democratically and provides guidance.
Note: This institution should not be confused with the Council of Europe, which is an international organisation founded in 1949 and comprising 47 member countries and 318 national representatives. A democratic and legal body, its role focuses on compliance with the European Convention on Human Rights and has nothing to do with the European Union. The Council of Europe has its headquarters in Brussels.

4) The European Council
Created in 1974, the European Council brings together the heads of state and government. Originally an informal body, since 2009 it has functioned through summits (official meetings bringing together the EU heads of state four times a year for several days around priority themes). The European Council debates and defines the Union’s political guidelines and priorities, stimulates initiatives and deals with complex and sensitive issues. It has no legislative powers; decisions are taken by consensus. The President of the European Council, the President of the European Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy also participate. The President of the European Council, elected by qualified majority for a two-and-a-half-year term, chairs this body, which is based in Brussels.

5) The Court of Justice of the European Union
The Court of Justice of the European Union, composed of one judge from each Member State and eight Advocates-General appointed for six-year terms, interprets European legislation to ensure that the law is applied uniformly across the EU. It rules on disputes between Member States and EU institutions. Individuals, companies and organisations may also refer cases to the Court.
Note: This institution should not be confused with the European Court of Human Rights, which is a court attached to the Council of Europe (mentioned above) and has no connection with the European Union. Signed on 4 November 1950 by 47 States, including Turkey and Russia, it ensures compliance with the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. Its headquarters are in Strasbourg.

6) The European Central Bank (ECB)
Created on 1 June 1998, the ECB defines and implements the European Union’s economic and monetary policy. It manages the euro, the single currency, and ensures price stability in the EU. An independent body, its Executive Board is made up of a Director, a Deputy Director and four members appointed for eight-year terms. It works with the central banks of the 27 EU countries. Its head office is in Frankfurt.

7) The European Court of Auditors
Established in 1975, the Court examines the finances of the European Union, improves financial management and reports on the use of public money. Its remit is to audit and present an annual report on the past financial year to the European Parliament and the Council. It is independent, with one member from each EU country appointed by the Council for a six-year term.

Other institutional bodies are involved in the running of the European Union: the European Investment Bank; the European Investment Fund; the European Social Fund; the European Economic and Social Committee; the Committee of the Regions; the European Ombudsman; the Data Protection Supervisor; the Publications Office; the European Personnel Selection Office; the European Administrative School; the European External Action Service. 🟧

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Institutional context • The European institutions • Lexical