TSR Wiki > Study Help > Subjects and Revision > Revision Notes > Politics > European Council Question
WHY IS THE COUNCIL SAID TO BE THE POWER CENTRE OF THE EU?
Intro
- The Council of the EU includes both the Council of ministers who meet regularly in specialist forums and the European Council made up of presidents and PM’s meeting twice yearly
- Together, they form the sovereign body and are the main decision making institution.
European Council
- Has sole right to decide new broad policy initiatives.
- Highest level policy making body and so is central to agreeing any future changes to the role, functions and operation of the EU.
- The country who holds presidency of the Council is head of the EU for 6months. He or she acts as the voice of the EU and can be influential in chairing meetings and arranging all council business.
- The council also appoints the head of the commission who in turn can give a sense of direction to the development of the EU.
Council of Ministers
Pillar one
- The legislature of the EU.
- It exercises co-decision with the EP under a range of issues of pillar 1 such as consumer protection, environment and the internal market.
- Give final approval to laws which become binding on all member states.
Pillar two & three
- Sole right of decision taking under pillars 2 +3.
- Although, member states have not ‘pooled sovereignty’ in these areas, the council is the main forum in which intergovernmental cooperation takes place and unanimous voting is therefore used for decisions.
Economy
- Coordinates broad economic policies of EMU member states in the ECOFIN council.
- Each year the council will adopt draft guidelines for economic policies of member states which become recommendations dealing with areas such as borrowing and inflation.
Budget
- Budgetary authority is shared with the EP.
- The commission will submit a draft budget for approval and can modify certain items of expenditure with EP agreement.
- If no agreement is reached the council will decide on compulsory expenditure such as agriculture and matters arising from international agreements.
- With increasing pressures on the budget due to enlargement this is becoming ever more important.
Enlargement
- Makes the final decision on admitting new accession states.
Conclusion
- The council’s power over decision making is undeniable. Although sharing much power with the EP, the Council is regarded as the ultimate source of authority giving final approval to laws.
- For intergovernmentalists, this consolidation of power with the intergovernmental Council is welcomed. *This may all change in future though, with the extension of QMV eroding national sovereignty and the increasing power of the EP to counterbalance the ‘democratic deficit’.
WHAT LIMITATIONS ARE THERE TO THE POWER OF THE COUNCIL?
Intro
- The Council of the EU includes both the Council of ministers who meet regularly in specialist forums and stuff and the European Council made up of presidents and PM’s meeting twice yearly
- Together, they form the sovereign body and are the main decision making institution.
RATIFIYING
- All treaties agreed by the council must be ratified by the legislature of each member state. In some states a referendum is needed as well.
=Codecision
- Since the Treaty of Amsterdam, the council of ministers has had to share legislative power with the EP in certain policy areas under Pillar 1. e.g. environment, consumer protection, internal market
- However the council has the final word on rejecting legislation using QMV.
Commission
- Council and EP can only take decisions based on proposals drafted by the Commission
- Power of implementation is the role of the Commission
EMU
- Not all countries are part of EMU, so the Councils economic power is limited geographically.
Comments
These notes are aimed at people studying for Edexcel A Level Government and Politics, unit 4A.
Originally submitted by shes_ellectric on TSR Forums.
