11. ECSC
• Coordination
between high
authority and
the member
states
• In some cases,
monitoring the
high authority
ECSC to EEC
• Commission set
up to replace
the High
authority
• Significant
transferral of
power in favor
of the Council
• Member states
now had a
greater say
From SEA to
Maastricht
treaty
• more decisions
using qualified-
majority voting
in the Council
Treaty of Nice
• Weighting of
votes in the
Council
A historical perspective on the role of Council
15. Common Foreign and Security Policy
Other policy areas(Ordinary Legislative
Procedure)
Intergovernmentalism
1
• Initiates new policy
lines
2
• Coordination among
member states
3
• High representatives
may make proposal The
Decision-making
triangle
European
Commission
European
Parliament
Council of
Ministers
16. Budget Authorization
Import duties
Value Added
Tax
Transfer from
Member States
Sources Budget of 140 billion Euros
Use of annual budget
Agricultural
Subsidies
Development
Common
Foreign Policy
Administration
18. Coordination of national policies
1
• National competence retained
2
• Common goals set
3
• Open method of coordination
4
• Non binding policy guidelines
22. Presidency of the Council
Rotation after every 6 months
Competent ministers of the presiding member state chair the respective
council configurations
23. Presidency and its influence
1
• Administrative tasks
2
• Setting political priorities
3
• Mediate between other member
states to resolve controversy
4
• Represents council in conciliation
committee
26. Rotation of Presidencies: Good or Bad?
FOR AGAINST
Allows leaders of member states to
convene meetings and launch
initiatives on issues of national interest
EU is huge- so is the workload,
difficult to handle for a small country
such as Cyprus
Allows countries/leaders to earn
prestige and credibility
Countries take nearly forever to get
the presidency back- with 28 states, the
waiting period is about 14 years!!
Allows small EU countries to directly
interact with other world leaders
Makes the EU feel closer to home for
the country holding the presidency
27. Regulations
• Most Powerful
• Directly applicable,
binding in entirety
•Take immediate effect
on a specified date
• Narrow in intent
•Designed to adjust
existing laws
Directives
• Binding in terms of
goals
•Member states need
to decide how they
will achieve those
goals
•Include a date by
which action is
expected
•Member states need
to inform Commission
about their activities
•Example: Directive to
reduce pollution from
large industrial plants
Decisions
• Binding in entirety,
though fairly specific
in intent
• Aimed at specific
member states,
institutions, or even
individuals
•Make changes to
powers of Institutions
• Internal
administrative matters
•Example:. Setting
standard prices for
vegetables
Recs & Opinions
• No binding force!
• Used to test reaction
to a new EU policy
• Used to persuade
/provide
interpretation on the
application of
regulations, directives
and decisions
•Example: Express a
view to a member
state
31. EU Enlargement
Proposals for
new laws
Prepares the
dossier for the
European Council
Coordinates the
work of the other
9 configurations
The most important council configuration
Responsible for all policy areas that the rest of the configurations do not cover
Responsible for the multi-annual budgetary perspective
Action Areas
32. CFSP+CDSP Trade
Development
Cooperation
Humanitarian
Aid
Action Areas
Most Unique Configuration- Chaired by the “Foreign Minister for the EU”- The
High Representative
Sensitive area, hence voting is by unanimity instead of QMV
Ministers try to agree on a “Common European Position” in all Foreign Policy
Matters
Unlike other decisions, the Parliament and the Commission have almost no say
Example: The FAC held an emergency meeting on March 3rd ’ 2014 to oppose
the Russian deployment of armed forces in Crimea.
33. Economic Policy
Co-ordination
Economic
Surveillance
Monitor
Member States
Budgets
Monitor Public
Finances
Euro
Financial
Markets/Capital
Movement
Economic
Relations with
Third Countries
Action Areas
Voting happens by QMV, except for fiscal policy-Unanimity
Prepares the budget along with the European Parliament
Decisions regarding the Euro are only taken by countries which have the Euro as
the currency
36. COUNCIL COREPER
Heads of diplomatic missions from the member states to the EU-Prepare the
meetings of the Council
Chaired by the Presidency of the Council of the European Union
Acts like a link between Brussels and National Governments-conveys views of
national governments, and also keeps them up-to-date about the developments in
Brussels
37. COREPER
COREPER I COREPER IISpecialized
Committees
Working
groups
Specialized
Committees
Working
groups
Senior
diplomats from
EU Member
States
38. COREPER
II: Heads of
Delegations
I: Deputy Heads
of Delegations
Chair: Member State
holding Presidency
Lower ranking officials, specialized
issues
All issues not covered in COREPER II
High ranking officials
Most important issues concerning
- External Relations
- Economic Policy
- Judicial Matters
- Covers GAC, ECONFIN and JHA
Both I and II prepare the council’s agenda, and try to
reach a consensus on as many points as possible
Both I and II prepare and perform a preliminary scrutiny of the
council’s agenda, and try to reach a consensus on as many points as
possible so that the council’s work is easy
39. COREPER
Committees
Working groups
Council
Committees and Working groups have significant indirect influence in
decision making, as they are the people who make the initial
standpoint on a legislation
Committees
Focus on highly specialized issues
Political and Security Committee
Special Committee on Agriculture(SCA
Respond to suggestions made by the
Parliament as part of OLP
Working groups
Made up of National Diplomats
Around 200 to 300 groups work at any
given point of time, on a wide array of
issues
Report directly to the COREPER or the
SCA
40. Ultimately, the COREPER will influence how the Council will handle a
certain matter
Items in the Council’s agenda are divided into 3 categories:
AItems
The COREPER has reached
a consensus. The Council
does not need to discuss in
detail.
Council can still reject
IItems
No Ministerial decision is
required
B Items
The COREPER has NOT
reached a consensus. The
Council needs to discuss
Usually returned back!
43. Commercial Competition
Internal
Market
Default since treaty of Lisbon
>90% of decisions
Triple Majority
- # Votes /Member State (>260/352)
- # Member States (>15/28)
- Population they represent (>62%)
Double Majority (w.e.f Nov ‘14)
- 1 vote per country
- # Member States (>55%)
- Population they represent (>65%)
- Blocking Minority
47. Concept of the Council of the EU: Good or Bad?
FOR AGAINST
Enables decision-making to remain
in the hands of state ministers
Council meetings can happen in
secret on issues that do not relate to
legislation
Council more accountable than
Commission-ministers answerable to
national parliaments
QMV system means countries have
decisions forced upon them
Intergovernmental in nature,
balances the supranational power of
the EU
"The EU is the only legislature in the world, except North Korea, that still makes
laws in secret." - Open letter from British Conservative MEPs to the EU,
September 2005.
51. Compromise Diplomacy
Bargaining
Decisions in the council heavily motivated by national political
interests
Views of ministers ideologically driven, authority will depend on the
strength/ stability of the governing party at home
Does not have the same structural regularity that the commission
enjoys