Video below on Bridging the EU's Pension Gap EU Calendar
August:
Mon 23
AGRA - 48th International Agricultural - Food Fair
Remembrance Day for Victims of Stalinism & Nazism
Commissioner Georgieva in Pakistan
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Tue 24
AGRA - 48th International Agricultural - Food Fair
Commissioner Georgieva in Pakistan
Bologna Follow Up Group Meeting
K. De Gucht participates in ASEAN Meeting
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Wed 25
AGRA - 48th International Agricultural - Food Fair
Bologna Follow Up Group Meeting
K. De Gucht participates in ASEAN Meeting
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Thu 26
AGRA - 48th International Agricultural - Food Fair
K. De Gucht participates in ASEAN Meeting
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Fri 27
K. De Gucht participates in ASEAN Meeting
The Night of the Arts, Open House in EU House Helsinki
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Sat 28
K. De Gucht participates in ASEAN Meeting
---------------------------------------------------------- How does the EU work?
4:The decision-making triangle
The European Union is more than just a confederation of countries, but it is not a federal state. It is, in fact, a new type of structure that does not fall into any traditional legal category. Its political system is historically unique and has been constantly evolving over more than 50 years.
When a hand is raised in the European Parliament - the person who does so is your voice.
The Treaties (known as 'primary' legislation), are the basis for a large body of 'secondary' legislation which has a direct impact on the daily lives of EU citizens. The secondary legislation consists mainly of regulations, directives and recommendations adopted by the EU institutions.
These laws, along with EU policies in general, are the result of decisions taken by the institutional triangle made up of the Council (representing national governments), the European Parliament (representing the people) and the European Commission (a body independent of EU governments that upholds the collective European interest).
(a) The Council of the European Union and the European Council
The Council of the European Union (also known as the Council of Ministers) is the EU's main decision-making body. The EU member states take it in turns to hold the Council Presidency for a six-month period. Every Council meeting is attended by one minister from each EU country. Which ministers attend a meeting depends on which topic is on the agenda: foreign affairs, agriculture, industry, transport, the environment, etc.
The Council has legislative power, which it shares with the European Parliament under the 'co-decision procedure'. In addition to this, the Council and the Parliament share equal responsibility for adopting the EU budget. The Council also concludes international agreements that have been negotiated by the Commission.
According to the Treaties, the Council has to take its decisions either by a simple majority vote, a 'qualified majority' vote or unanimously, depending on the subject to be decided.
The Council has to agree unanimously on important questions such as amending the Treaties, launching a new common policy or allowing a new country to join the Union.
In most other cases, qualified majority voting is used. This means that a Council decision is adopted if a specified minimum number of votes are cast in its favour. The number of votes allocated to each EU country roughly reflects the size of its population.
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