Europe

Political structure of the EU

While the early decades of the EU resulted above all in successful economic integration, the fall of the Berlin Wall and the end of the Cold War gave political integration, too, a decisive impetus. In the 1990s almost all internal borders in the EU were opened; following the introduction of its single currency, the euro, its economic policy was further harmonised, and a common security and foreign policy established. Without a comprehensive head-to-toe reform, however, the EU will be unable to achieve its ambitious targets in connection with its enlargement by ten new members. The Convention on the future of the European Union, which was established in February 2002, is charged with developing relevant recommendations including a European constitution. The Convention is composed of 105 members, with Valéry Giscard d’Estaing, the former president of France, presiding.

The current political structure of the EU resembles that of a temple. The first pillar regulates economic cooperation within the European Communities (EC); the second is concerned with its common security and foreign policy (CFSP); finally, the third pillar handles cooperation on judicial and interior affairs. The pillars are crowned by the Treaty on European Union.

The most important functions of the EU are carried out by the following institutions and bodies:

• The Council of the European Union is composed of representatives from the Member States, generally at ministerial level, and is the EU's main decision-making body. It is a legislative body, coordinates general economic policy, concludes international agreements on behalf of the EU and takes the decisions necessary for the implementation of the common security and foreign policy. The Presidency of the Council rotates every six months according to a set order.
• The 15 Heads of State and Government of the EU and the President of the Commission meet at least twice a year in the European Council. As the most important political body the Council establishes the basic principles and guidelines governing Community policy.
• The 20-strong European Commission in Brussels monitors compliance with and implementation of Community legislation or acquis communautaire and promotes the integration process through legislative initiatives (‘guardian of the EU treaties and a driving force in integration’). Subject to approval by the European Parliament, the President and members of the Commission are appointed by the Member States for a period of five years. The current President of the Commission is the Italian Romano Prodi.
• The 626 Members (MEPs) of the European Parliament in Strasbourg represent the EU’s citizens and since 1979 have been elected by the populations of the Member States every five years. The European Parliament is the organ of control of the Commission and, jointly with the Council, also plays a decisive role in adopting the budget.
• The European Court of Justice , seated in Luxembourg, is responsible for enforcing and applying EU Community law. The Court is composed of 15 judges who are appointed by joint agreement of the EU Member States.
• The European Court of Auditors verifies that all the Union's revenue has been received and all its expenditure incurred in a lawful and regular manner, and publishes an annual audit report following the end of each budget year.
• The European Central Bank in Frankfurt am Main is responsible for implementing European monetary policy and conducting foreign exchange operations; it is independent from the governments and bodies of the EU.

Citizens and bureaucracy

One of the EU’s political characteristics consists in the fact that it reflects the differing, sometimes contrary interests, concepts and principles of its Member States. It also represents a sophisticated system that serves to approve and implement decisions made by a wide range of bodies and institutions at European and national level.

For the citizens, this complex structure only too often appears as a dense bureaucratic jungle. The fact is, an increasing number of issues of national policy are being influenced in and by Brussels. Yet without the involvement of Europe's citizens, European integration will ultimately be a failure.

The EU has implemented a number of measures designed to improve grassroots proximity including the first direct election of the European Parliament in 1979, the establishment of Union citizenship (supplementary to national citizenship) in 1996 and the signature of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union in 2000. The EU Convention also explicitly appealed to the citizens to engage in dialogue. A further major point of contact for the citizens of the EU is the European Ombudsman, who was first appointed in 1995.

Searching for the ultimate structure

According to Article 1 of the Treaty on European Union, the EU represents an ‘ever closer union among the peoples of Europe, in which decisions are taken as openly as possible and as closely as possible to the citizen’. In line with this principle European integration is being driven forward gradually and pragmatically while respecting the interests and wishes of the States involved, without following any predetermined theoretical plan or timing. On the one hand, this diversity is the secret of the EU's success; on the other, it could be politically explosive.

The EU is currently facing decisions of wide-reaching consequence in terms on its interior order and future role in the global political arena. For instance, how should European-level decisions be made, which issues will be decided with a simple majority in order to enable the EU to remain empowered also following enlargement? How will the competencies and responsibilities be distributed across the EU? Will the Member States continue to lead the tune in Europe, or will the powers of the EU Commission and Parliament be strengthened? How far should integration go; how pronounced is the political determination to devolve particularly certain delicate sovereign issues to Brussels? Will Europe succeed in speaking with one voice on the global political stage, or will it continue to be perceived above all as an economic force? If no satisfactory answers to these issues are found and the citizens are not integrated into the process, Europe’s political union will ultimately remain incomplete.

European unification timeline