EUROPEAN COMMISSION – INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
News: PM congratulates Ursula von der Leyen on
being re-elected as European Commission President
What’s in the News?
European Commission (EC): It is an executive
body of the European Union, responsible for proposing legislation,
implementing decisions, upholding the EU treaties and managing the day-to-day
business of the EU.
·
The
Commission operates as a cabinet government, with 27 members of the Commission.
There is one member per member state. These members are proposed by
member countries and European Parliament gives final approval on them.
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One of
the 27 members is the Commission President proposed by the
European Council and elected by the European Parliament.
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The
Commission is divided into departments known as Directorates-General
(DGs) that can be likened to departments or ministries is headed
by a director-general who is responsible to a commissioner.
·
High Representative (HR) of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security
Policy is
appointed by the European Council by voting and The President of the EC must be
in agreement with the decision. HR is charged with shaping and carrying out the
EU's foreign, security and defence policies.
European Council:
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It is a collective body that defines the European
Union's overall political direction and priorities.
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It comprises of the heads of state or
government of the EU member states, along with the President
of the European Council and the President of the European Commission.
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The High Representative of the Union for
Foreign Affairs and Security Policy also takes part in its meetings.
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Established as an informal summit in 1975, the
European Council was formalised as an institution in 2009 upon the entry into
force of the Treaty of Lisbon.
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The decisions of its summits are adopted by
consensus.
European Parliament:
- It is the only parliamentary
institution of the European Union (EU) that is directly elected by
EU citizens aged 18 years or older. Together with the Council
of the European Union (also known as the 'Council'), it exercises
the legislative function of the EU.
European Parliament does not possess as much legislative power as its member countries’ parliaments do.- Council of the European
Union: It is part of the essentially bicameral
EU legislature (the other legislative body being the European Parliament)
and represents the executive governments (Minister) of the EU's
member states.
- In the Council, government
ministers from each EU country meet to discuss, amend and adopt laws, and
coordinate policies. The ministers have the authority to commit their
governments to the actions agreed on in the meetings.
Source: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2034222#:~:text=The%20Prime%20Minister%20posted%20on,Strategic%20Partnership%20for%20global%20good.%22