The EU Commission

Question 1

european commission

Answer 1

commissioners appointed by member states, policy formulation and implementation

proposes legislation

Question 2

european parliament

Answer 2

elected representatives, discussion and adoption of new laws

adopt legislation

Question 3

council of ministers

Answer 3

ministers from member states, discussion and adoption of new laws

adopt legislation

Question 4

roles of the EU Commission in the EU system

Answer 4

policy preparation

adopting delegated / implementing acts, managing policy

monitoring of implementation in member states

external representation

managing budget

Question 5

implementation

Answer 5

interpretating what a piece of implementation says, this is always done by the member states

Question 6

policy preparation

Answer 6

commission preparates legislative initiatives.

a gate-keeping role: almost exclusive right of legislative initiative

Question 7

kind of legislative processes

Answer 7

legislative agenda / priorities

expert groups

white papers

impact assessment

inter-service coordination

approval by college of commissioners

Question 8

legislative agenda / priorities

Answer 8

the ideas come from, after the commission is installed, indication from the commissioners (based on crisis and importance)

Question 9

expert groups

Answer 9

groups invited to gain info about certain topics

Question 10

public consultation

Answer 10

the public can send their point of view on the topic

Question 11

impact assessment

Answer 11

for every legislative proposal there needs to be a study to calculate the different consequences

Question 12

inter-service coordination

Answer 12

deciding which choice the commission wants

Question 13

comitology

Answer 13

new name after lisbon treaty = delegated acts / implementing acts

Question 14

delegated / implementing acts

Answer 14

legislation is always incomplete, there are always many detailed decisions to be taken down the line

legislatures lack time, knowledge and resources to manage these in detail

so they empower the executive (commission) to adopt such decisions

but legislatives control the executive in return

Delegated acts = EP / Council may unilaterally veto a delegated act

Implementing acts = Committee of member state civil servants needs to vote on the implementation act prior to adoption

Question 15

implementing acts

Answer 15

Committee of member state civil servants needs to vote on the implementation act prior to adoption

Question 16

delegated acts

Answer 16

EP / Council may unilaterally veto a delegated act

Question 17

monitoring of implementation

Answer 17

commission might launch an infringement procedure:

officially warn the member state (letter of formal notice)

member state may reply

officially warn the member state again

if commission is not satisfied, court case

Question 18

infringement procedure commission

Answer 18

officially warn the member state (letter of formal notice)

member state may reply

officially warn the member state again

if commission is not satisfied, court case

Question 19

is the EU commission political or technical

Answer 19

it is both

there are different levels in the Commission (commissioners, DGs) and their control over the commission’s activities

different roles in each level of the commission

different pitching as EU commission as a whole

Question 20

staff obtains information through

Answer 20

linkages with national administration

meeting with stakeholders

public consultations

study reports

Question 21

political: reforms in the commission

Answer 21

commission is internally still very fragmented. many specialized and small DGs. does not govern on the basis of a coalition agreement. Proposals of one DG may easily be opposed by another DG.

Solution = hierarchy

more steering from the top level: some commissioners are now more important than others. Secretariat-General assumes an increasingly strong role.

= more political control over the agenda setting and policy formulation

Question 22

technical: in-sourcing expertise

Answer 22

relatively small staff compared to national administrations. obtains information through:

• linkages with national administration: expert groups and comitology
• meetings with stakeholders
• public consultations
• study reports

Question 23

appointment process of commission

Answer 23

european council nominates a president (candidate) with QMV, taking account of EP election result

EP votes for approval

All MS nominate a commissioner, in liaison with commissioner president-elect

EP hears every single candidate, and votes on the new Commission

council votes on the new Commission

Question 24

Spitzenkandidaten

Answer 24

top candidates from political parties who can be elected for the presidency of the EC

failed in 2019, worked in 2024

Question 25

accountability College of Commissioners

Answer 25

College of Commissioners is accountable to the EP