Are the Council of Ministers and the Commission partners or rivals in European policy-making?

The European Union (EU) is a hybrid and unique body, which “(…) does not fit with many of our preconceived notions of how politics is organized.” (Cini, 2003-(a):1) Two aspects contribute to its “distinctiveness”: First, the EU has a two- level nature: it combines supranational with intergovernmental features. Supranationalism is defined as “(…) the existence of an authority that is ‘higher’ than that of the nation state and capable of imposing its will upon it.” (Heywood, 2000, 259). Applied to the EU, this definition would only concern the supranational EU- institutions. But supranationalism also refers to the common interests of the Union as a whole, and to most policy-areas, which are under the authority of the EU. The intergovernmental EU-level is characterised by the dominance of state-sovereignty. It relates to some EU-policy-areas and particularly to the special role of the 25 EU-member states, which have considerable influence within the Union. Both EU- levels have been subject to two different EU- integration theories. Neo- functionalism explains the creation and importance of a supranational stage with its core-concept of spillover. Intergovernmentalism is characterized by its state-centrism and focus on sovereignty. The second unique aspect of the EU, related to the first, is the complex EU-policy-making process. Legislation, developed by the EU- institutions, has to be implemented on a national level. Particularly the European Commission and the Council of the EU are main actors in policy-making. In this process, the Commission explicitly represents the Union’s interests and is thus referred to as supranational. The Council shows strong intergovernmental characteristics. It acts on behalf of the sovereign EU-member states and therefore has considerable influence in policy-making. [...]

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• The European Commission
• The Council of the European Union
• EU policy-making
  • The pillars
  • Methods and procedures of decision-making
• Inter-institutional relationship between Council and Commission

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This essay aims to examine the nature of the relationship between the European Commission and the Council of the European Union in the context of EU policy-making. The focus is on whether the two institutions are rivals or partners, considering the potential for conflict arising from the EU's unique dual nature, which combines supranational and intergovernmental elements.

• The supranational and intergovernmental nature of the European Union
• The roles and responsibilities of the European Commission and the Council of the EU in policy-making
• The potential for conflict between supranational EU interests and member state interests
• The methods and procedures of EU decision-making
• The analysis of the Commission and Council's liaison in the policy-making process

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

• The European Commission: This chapter provides an overview of the European Commission's structure and functioning, highlighting its political independence from member states and its supranational character. It examines the Commission's political and administrative arms, including the College of Commissioners and the Directorates-General (DGs), and outlines its main roles and responsibilities in the EU policy-making process.
• The Council of the European Union: This chapter focuses on the Council of the EU, its structure, and its intergovernmental nature. It describes the different configurations of the Council, such as the General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAC) and the Economic and Financial Affairs (Ecofin) Council, and highlights the Council's role as a representative of member state interests in EU policy-making.
• EU policy-making: This chapter delves into the EU policy-making process, outlining the different methods and procedures used for decision-making. It explores the roles of the Commission and Council within this process, particularly in relation to initiating legislation, managing the EU budget, enforcing European law, and representing different interests.
• Inter-institutional Relationship between Council and Commission: This chapter explores the complex relationship between the Commission and the Council, analyzing the potential for conflict and cooperation between these two key actors in the EU policy-making process.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

The primary keywords and focus topics of this essay include European Commission, Council of the European Union, EU policy-making, supranationalism, intergovernmentalism, decision-making processes, conflict, partnership, EU institutions, member states, and national interests.

Details

• College: University of Edinburgh
• Grade: 1,5
• Author: Julia Heise (Author)
• Publication Year: 2004
• Pages: 15
• Catalog Number: V36675
• ISBN (eBook): 9783638362276
• Language: English
• Tags: Council Ministers Commission European