EUROPEAN COMMISSION – INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

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.

·         One of the 27 members is the Commission President proposed by the European Council and elected by the European Parliament.

·         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:

·         It is a collective body that defines the European Union's overall political direction and priorities.

·         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.

·         The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy also takes part in its meetings.

·         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.

·         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