The EU is run by five main institutions: the European Council, the Council of the European Union, the European Parliament, the European Commission and the Court of Justice.
The European Council, which is the meeting place for heads of state or government, sets the EU’s overall policy agenda and its priorities.
It meets at least four times each year, but more often when necessary.
The European Council is entirely different from the Council of the European Union, which is generally referred to as just ‘the Council’ or ‘the Council of Ministers’.
Laws are drafted by the Commission, then approved by the Council and European Parliament
The policy agenda set by the European Council will be carried forward through EU legislation. Here the main players are the European Commission, the Council and the European Parliament.
The European Commission will commonly propose new EU laws, after having consulted other EU institutions and interested parties. The draft laws are available on the EU website.
The draft EU law must then be approved by the Council, which is composed of government ministers, as well as by the European Parliament, which is made up of directly elected representatives from national constituencies. These members of the European Parliament, or MEPs, are organised into political groups rather than by nationality.
A draft law will commonly be amended by the Council and by the European Parliament. These institutions will normally discuss the draft with each other and with the Commission.
There are limits on the laws that can be passed
In deciding whether and how to legislate, the EU is supposed to take account of what is known as ‘subsidiarity’: asking itself whether action at EU level is really required, or whether the issue could be dealt with adequately by member countries.
National parliaments can express views on this, and they can also bring a challenge in court if they do not agree that action is required at EU level.
The EU only has the powers given to it by the treaties that established it. Laws cannot be made unless permitted by a particular Treaty article allowing the EU to act on that topic.
The Commission and member countries put EU rules into practice
When EU law is enacted it must then be implemented.
The European Commission has the main responsibility for this, but it works closely with administrators in the member countries.
Implementation of many EU policies is therefore shared between the European Commission and member countries.
The EU court can invalidate EU laws, or force countries to follow them
The Court of Justice is also important in the running of the EU. Laws enacted by the EU can be challenged in court for a variety of reasons.
A challenge might be brought on the basis that a law went further than was allowed by the treaty article on which it was based. The Court interprets what the treaty articles mean, and what they do and don’t allow. Or it might be argued that the law was in some unintended way discriminatory.
If the court is convinced by such arguments the EU legislation can be declared invalid.
The Court of Justice can also give judgments about the member countries.
An individual might believe that something a country has done is contrary to that country’s obligations under EU law. If the court is convinced by these claims, it can rule that the national action is incompatible with EU law. If that happens, the member state must bring its behaviour into line with EU law.
FAQs
The EU treaties declare the Union to be based on representative democracy, and direct elections take place in the European Parliament. The Parliament, together with the Council, form the legislative arm of the EU. The council is composed of state governments, thus representing the intergovernmental nature of the EU.
Who runs the EU Union? ›
In 2019, Ursula von der Leyen was appointed as President of the European Commission.
What are the basic facts about the EU? ›
Did You Know?
- More than 500 million people live in the European Union.
- There are 24 official languages of the European Union.
- During Charles de Gaulle's leadership of France in the 1960s, the country twice rejected the United Kingdom's application to the European Economic Community.
Overview. The European Commission is the EU's politically independent executive arm. It is alone responsible for drawing up proposals for new European legislation, and it implements the decisions of the European Parliament and the Council of the EU.
What power does the EU have? ›
EU policies aim to ensure the free movement of people, goods, services and capital within the internal market; enact legislation in justice and home affairs; and maintain common policies on trade, agriculture, fisheries and regional development. Passport controls have been abolished for travel within the Schengen Area.
How does EU governance work? ›
There are three political institutions which hold the executive and legislative power of the Union. The Council of the European Union represents governments, the Parliament represents citizens and the Commission represents the European interest.
Who controls EU funding? ›
EU funding is managed by the Commission, jointly with the Member States, or through implementing partners. The management mode determines the procedure for applications and how they are evaluated.
What countries run the EU? ›
The EU countries are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.
Who controls the EU budget? ›
The European Commission, in cooperation with Member States, is responsible for the implementation of the EU budget in accordance with the Financial Regulation.
How did the EU start? ›
European integration began to take shape in the 1950s, but the modern union was founded in 1992 with the Maastricht Treaty. The EU was given its current structure and powers in 2007 with the Lisbon Treaty, also known as the Reform Treaty.
Happy reading.
- The Continent of Europe is Home to More than 400 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. ...
- Vatican City is the smallest country in the world. ...
- More than 200 languages spoken in Europe. ...
- Norway has the longest coastline in Europe. ...
- Fries were Invented in Belgium. ...
- Donald Duck is an essential part of Christmas in Sweden.
The European Union has its own legislature and executive, as well as an independent judiciary and a central bank. These are supported and complemented by a set of institutions and bodies, the powers conferred on which derive from the founding Treaties.
Who regulates EU law? ›
During the ordinary legislative procedure, the Council (which are ministers from member state governments) and the European Parliament (elected by citizens) can make amendments and must give their consent for laws to pass. The Commission oversees departments and various agencies that execute or enforce EU law.
What is the summary of the EU? ›
The European Union is a unique partnership between 27 European countries, known as Member States, or EU countries. Together they cover much of the European continent. The EU is home to around 447 million people, which is around 6 % of the world's population.
Is the EU fully democratic? ›
The European Union describes its values as being 'Human Dignity, Freedom, Democracy, Equality, Rule of Law, and Human Rights'. Democracy is a cornerstone of the project that is the European Union, and has been since its inception. It thus also represents a criterion for accession to the EU.
How is the EU governed and how many parts are there? ›
There are 4 main decision-making institutions which lead the EU's administration. These institutions collectively provide the EU with policy direction and play different roles in the law-making process: the European Parliament (Brussels/Strasbourg/Luxembourg) the European Council (Brussels)
How does the EU make money? ›
The main sources of revenue for the 2021-2027 budget are member states' contributions based on their gross national income, value added tax-based resources and custom duties.
Is the EU economy doing well? ›
Over the course of 2023, the European economy saw close to zero growth. The continent's two largest national economies—Germany and the U.K.—may both be in recession. Flagship European companies such as Volkswagen, Nokia, and UBS have collectively announced tens of thousands of layoffs.
