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HOW DOES THE EUROPEAN UNION WORK?
28 COUNTRIES
65 YEARS
508 MILLION PEOPLE
Indirectly elected
19 COUNTRIES USE THE EURO Sets the priorities for the EU through summits which take place four times a year.
European Council
The head of each member state’s government is part of the European Council.
provides the overall leadership of the EU by deciding strategic direction and agreeing treaties.
Appointed
European Commission
Every five years each member state government nominates a commissioner.
proposes new EU laws, which the parliament and council then debate, amend and approve, before the Commission implements the policy.
Elected
European Parliament
Every five years voters in every member state vote for representatives (MEPs) in the European Parliament.
made up of 751 MEPs, 73 of which are elected from the UK, the European Parliament amends and votes on EU laws, sharing these powers with the Council of the European Union; parliament doesn’t propose new laws.
Proposes new laws and regulations based on the priorities set by the European Council.
Indirectly elected
Council of the European Union
Made up of the relevant government ministers from each member state.
members are arranged in groupings based on the topic under consideration. For example if agriculture is being discussed the agriculture ministers will attend.
Appointed
European Court of Justice
Member states’ governments appoint judges for two and a half year terms.
interprets EU law, mostly focusing on considering the legality of EU decisions and ensuring member states are implementing decisions into their national laws.
TRADE
AGRICULTURE
FISHING
TRANSPORT
ENVIRONMENT
ENERGY
5 MAIN INSTITUTIONS
Most laws require a simple majority in parliament to pass, although some issues require unanimous approval by the Council (foreign policy and some policing issues), and here the parliament cannot block the decision. Most of the time the Council uses a system which requires 55 per cent of member states’ support.
SECURITY
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National governments Laws passed by the EU institutions are then adopted by member states’ national governments into their own legal systems.
Provides scrutiny to ensure laws have been implemented.
DEFENCE
EMPLOYMENT
FOREIGN AFFAIRS