3.2. Institutional and political super structure of the eu

In the development of Western European economic integration is gradually formed in the institutional political system regulation of relations between countries intehrantamy at the supranational level and advocacy groups at the international level. The structure of this system consists of instructions, each of which performs a specific function.

European Council - the highest governing authority in the institutional political system of the EU. It identifies the main political priorities of the European Union. In force since 1974 in the form of regular (at least twice a year) summit of Heads of State and Government. The European Council was instytuyovana Single European Act.

Its status as the Maastricht Treaty defined the decision-making is the driving force of the European Union to define common policy priorities intehrantiv countries.

Heads of State and Government as a mechanism of the European Council dynamizuyut Western European integration process, identify key areas for economic and political cooperation in Europe and at world level, they are examined and researched the issues that come across the obstacles blocking the national level and not resolved

Structure

Institutional and political

EU system

• European Council

• European Parliament

• Council of the European Union

• European Commission of the European Union

• Accounting Chamber / Court of Auditors

Subsidiary bodies

• European Economic

and a special committee

• Committee of the Regions

• European Central Bank

• The European Ombudsman

• European Investment Bank

means the usual procedure.

European Parliament - mainly an advisory body with which the Council of the European Union and the European Commission consulted on the decision-making and other legislative acts of the most important issues.

Since 1979 the democratically elected European Parliament EU citizens, now citizens of 27 EU members, through direct universal suffrage. Performing mainly advisory and supervisory functions, the European Parliament has enough traditional parliamentary law. Because of its position in reality is not obligatory for the EU Council and the European Commission, although the additional powers after the Single European Act and Maastricht Treaty he received. For example, consideration of applications for associate and full membership, trade agreements with third countries, the right of participation in decision making together with the Council of Ministers in the area of law that affect the single market issues, the right to make proposals on certain political issues and the right to create ad-hoc committees, etc. .

MEPs meet monthly to plenary sessions of one week in Strasbourg. In additional short (very important meetings) members gather in Brussels. European Parliament Secretariat is in Luxembourg.

Council of the European Union Council of Ministers - representing EU governments, the supreme legislative body, which ensures participation of intehrantiv of learning and decision making. Council of the European Union or EU Council of Ministers acts as the only legislative (political) authority, but its composition is constantly defined sectoral issues, which is brought for review and requires action. Council of Foreign Ministers, Council of Ministers of Economy, Council of Agriculture Ministers, the Council of Ministers of Finance and others.

Every time in the meeting involved 27 ministers - one from each country intehranta that represent that area of multilateral cooperation, problems of which shall be put on the agenda next meeting.

Ministers from the EU differently accountable parliaments of their countries, but a decision taken by the European Union required each country intehranta and can not be changed unilaterally. Depending on the issues submitted for consideration, the decision of the European Council adopted unanimously or, or a qualified majority.

After the Single European Act and Maastricht Treaty in particular has greatly increased the number of issues on which decisions are taken by simple majority vote.

The Prime Minister elected on a rotation basis the Foreign Minister of one of the intehrantiv period of 6 months. Chairman prioritizes issues offers compromise solutions. Terms of the Treaty of Rome provided for four legal forms of regulations that govern relations between EU member states: regulations, directives, decisions and recommendations. They differ in their nature, mandatory power and the means of implementation.

After the entry into force of the Single European Act and Maastricht Treaty came into wide use the principle of qualified majority.

European Commission (EU Commission) - the highest executive and administrative unit in the institutional and political structure of the EU. Its function: to ensure the implementation of agreements and treaties on European Union, the initiation and preparation for consideration at the Council of legislation and ensure their implementation.

From 1 January 1995, the European Commission is elected for 5 years (considering the duration of the mandate of the European Parliament). Commission members act in the interests of all groups and formally independent from governments of their countries, are obliged to respect the character of their functions. As the Commission is a collegial body, its decisions should be made with the participation of all members by simple majority. Each committee member is solely responsible within their jurisdiction.

European Commission President elected by the heads of State and Government after consulting the European Parliament. Other members of the Commission are appointed by national governments.

After the Maastricht Treaty of the European Commission regulatory function has expanded considerably, especially regarding pricing, competition, transport, environmental issues, regional development and the development of relations with third countries, among them and with the candidate countries for EU membership. Important role does the European Commission as Paymaster EU, which is associated with the formation of own funds available to EU funds, measures of economic protection. At stake is the EU budget, European Social Development Fund, European Agricultural Guarantee Fund-orientation, the European Regional Development Fund and others. In the period 2007-2013 EU budget expenditures envisaged in the amount of € 969,8 billion particular, the 2008 EU budget expenditures amounted to € 129,1 billion in 2009 planned to € 133,8 billion

Of the European Union (European Court) - the highest judicial body to ensure compliance with EU legislation. It provides the correct interpretation and application of the Treaty of Rome and other laws and resolve disputes that arise in the activities of the EU.

The European Court is guided by principles:

• the priority of European Union law over national law;

• direct application of EU law by member intehrantamy (regardless of when changes or additions to the national legislation).

The European Court consists of 15 vessels that assisting attorneys general in September, and one clerk. Term - 6 years. Rotation of the half, every 3 years.

Accounting Chamber or the European Court of Auditors operates from 1975, oversees the implementation of European Union budget. It consists of 27 members - one representative from each EU country.

With the deepening of economic and political integration in Western Europe intsytutsiyno-political system into a cumbersome, bureaucratic supranational mechanism, the maintenance of which is too costly for taxpayers. After enlargement on the balance of institutions yevrosoyuznyh number of positions exceeds 41 000 and costs of officials at various levels reached € 5.4 billion, so together with the handling of EU expansion projects conducted searches at ways of facilitating and improving the management and regulatory system.

With leading EU institutions cooperate more important "support" agencies. European Economic and Social Committee - the scale of the EU expresses the views and opinions and interests of NGOs in economic and social issues. Committee of the Regions - and represents the position of regional and local authorities intehrantiv countries. European Central Bank - is responsible for price stability, monetary policy produces, manages the operation of the euro currency, regulating relations between subjects of eurozone and EU members that urymuyutsya of accession. The European Ombudsman, Ombudsman - citizens of the EU considers complaints related to violations of their rights and improper functioning of any institution of a body of the EU. European Investment Bank to help reach common goals intehrantiv countries with funding.

Regulatory, supervisory responsibilities of institutional and political system and expanded considerably clarify the Lisbon Treaty on the functioning of the European Union, which entered into force on 1 December 2009.

According to the Lisbon Treaty clearly defined European Parliament (representing and defending the requests of citizens), the European Union Council of Ministers (Government protects the interests of intehrantiv).

Official status of the EU institutions has become the European Council as the governing political body that brings together heads of states or governments. Introduction of the main administrative office of permanent Chairman / President of the Council improves its function of general political direction and coordination of activities and opens new possibilities for effective EU foreign policy in the international arena. Permanent Head of the European Council is vested with the supervisory functions. His responsibilities include preparation of the next European Council summit, chaired by, of a representative role on behalf of the EU.

A foreign policy and diplomatic institution - the European External Action Service and established a single coordinating office in foreign policy - the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy - Informal Foreign Minister. In fact, by merging the High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy and the Commissioner for External Relations.

Officially established the European Defence Agency, which must act on the principle of shared solidarity. Established commitment to mutual assistance and solidarity in cases of armed attack, terrorist attack on one country, natural or man-made disaster in a country community. Progressive development yevrosoyuznoyu defense component is not an alternative system of collective defense of NATO.

Lisbon Treaty provides for joint Yevrosoyuznoho asylum regime, becoming integrated management of external borders the EU. In this way improved "area of freedom, security and justice." Sorted clarify a number of other vital community issues yevrosoyuznoyi countries. However, stressed that the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty does not lead to a "European superpower, and its entry into force does not mean" even greater dominance bryuselskoyi bureaucracy.