European Union Law

• What is the EU?
• Information sources of the EU
• Legislative processes of the EU
• Recent activities
• Terminology

What is the EU?

History
The European Union has its genesis in a post-war Europe which was suffering an economic, cultural and spiritual disintegration. The need to co-operate and integrate manufacturing, energy and economic industries saw the birth of the first three European Communities:

European Coal and Steel Community, 1951 Apr. 18, 1951, 261 UNTS 140 (Treaty of Paris). This Treaty expired in 2002.
European Atomic Energy Community, 1957 Mar. 25, 1957, 298 UNTS 259 (Euratom Treaty)
European Economic Community, 1957 Mar. 25, 1957, 298 UNTS 3 (Treaty of Rome)

Later amending treaties include:

Single European Act, 1986 (SEA)
Treaty on European Union, 1992 (Maastricht Treaty) (TEU)
Treaty of Amsterdam, 1997
Treaty of Nice, 2001
Treaty Establishing a Constitution for Europe, 2004 (Treaty of Rome)
Reform Treaty. This treaty was approved by the European Council on October 2007 and will be signed by member States in December 2007. It is created in the wake of the failed Treaty of Rome.

Membership of the EU

There were 6 original members of the EC: France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg. Today there are 25 members.; Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Sloavkia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

Institutions and Agenices

The European Union at a Glance
How the European Union works : Your guide to the EU institutions, 2005
Process and Players of the European Union

Executive

The European Commission
The Commission operates as the executive body of the EU, and represents EU policies and interests. It is ordered into departments known as Directorates-General.
* only institution which can propose new law
* implements adopted laws
* ensures Member States implement laws correctly

European Council
* composed of heads of state of Member States
* decision making body which refers decisions back to the Council of the EU

Presidency
* a six month role alternated between member States.
* from 1 July 2009, Sweden takes over the Presidency of the EU
* presidency programmes are a useful source of information on future EU policy
* Presidency sets the Agenda for Council of the European Union meetings

European Central Bank implements monetary policy and is responsible for the issuance of the Euro

 

Legislative

Council of the European Union (previously called the Council of Ministers)
* reflects Member State interests

European Parliament
* represents Citizens interest
* has power of co-decision with the Council of the European Union
* meets for plenary sessions monthly, in Strasbourg, France

Committee of the Regions - a consultative body of 317 members appointed by the Council of Ministers, from the ranks of local, municipal and regional officials. The CoR must be consulted on laws affecting trans-European infrastructure

European Economic and Social Committee - a consultative body of 317 members appointed by the Council of Ministers, which issues opinions on laws dealing with labour, transport, consumer protection, public health, and education

 

Judicial

European Court of Justice
Court of First Instance (first stage) - opinion of Advocate-General of the ECJ on the matter. This is often a vital source of information as the AGs are often academics or judges from Member States who survey all aspects of a case.
Judicial decisions of the ECJ may or may not agree with the opinion of the Advocate-General.

European Court of Auditors
Examines the accounts of the Union's revenue and expenditure.

 

3 Pillars of the European Union (as per Maastricht Treaty)