EU

Question

Do you think politicians in Brussels know what EU citizens want?

but..

Do you know them?

Green economics

A look inside the machine

3 PRINCIPAL ACTORS

Environment

* European Commission

* European Parliament

* European Council

* 15% emissions, 5% of population

* Total Greenhouse Gas Emissions (in CO2 equivalent) 88.7 in 2008 (1990=100)

* Share of renewable energy 10.3% in 2008

Other influences

* Leading by example?

* 20-20-20 agenda

* Roadmap 2050

* Thinktanks

* NGOs

* Foreign governments

* Lobbyists

Green economics

HOw is law made in the eu?

4 PROCEDURES

Social

EU policy concerning immigration, social exclusion, the poor

* Consultation Procedure

* Cooperation Procedure

* Assent Procedure

* Co-decision Procedure

* Human trafficking

* Roma

Consultation Procedure

* Oldest procedure

* Still used

* Commission proposes, Council disposes

Big ambitions, difficult to execute

THE EU AND YOU

Green economics

cooperation and assent procedure

Introduced in 1980s to improve democracy

Economy

Cooperation Procedure

* Parliament can make amendments to common Council position

* Council has final decision

* Continuation without much change

* Stricter rules?

* Euro-problems; i.e. Greece, Spain

* Schisma between north and south;

EMU under pressure

Assent Procedure

* Parliament can approve or disapprove

* Needs absolute majority

Co-decision procedure

Discussion: more or less integration?

Is Brussels in charge?

Introduced by Maastricht Treaty, enhanced by Lisbon Treaty

* EU Law overrides national law

* Do they decide what we do not want?

* Parliament co-decides

* If no common position found; no law

Is Brussels needed?

General Rule of Thumb

* Difficult to find agreement

* Multi-level governance; ongoing experiment

* Bargaining power in world politics & economy

* Globalisation + problems

The more important policy for national governments, less power for Brussels

How do bodies find position?

Qualified majority voting

Commission

29

France, Germany, UK, Italy

27

Poland, Spain

14

13

The Netherlands

Romania

* Work like national ministers

* One or two meetings per week

10

12

Austria, Sweden, Bulgaria

Belgium, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Portugal

Parliament

7

Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Lithuania, Slovakia

4

* Like national parliaments

* I.e. Liberals, Social-democrats, Greens

Cyprys, Estonia, Latvia, Luxembourg, Slovenia

Malta

3

European Council

* Heads of state meet at least 4 times per year

* Specialist ministers usually more often

* Vote about proposals during meetings

* Subject decides; absolute majority vs QMV

Weighted votes

Based on:

* Size

* Economy

* History

* Position

Double click anywhere & add an idea