Home / Summaries / Class notes - Tweeupp / council-groups-legislation

The Council of the European Union: the heart of EU decision-making

6 important questions on The Council of the European Union: the heart of EU decision-making

What is the central legislative function?

That all EU proposals (originating from the Commission) must be approved by the Council before becoming EU law.

What is the ordinary legislative procedure (OLP)?

The main procedure for adopting legislation in the European Union, known before the Lisbon Treaty entered into force as 'co-decision'. The OLP makes the Parliament an equal co-legislative partner with the Council. Whilst agreement is normally concluded at first reading following informal negotiations, under the OLP the EP has the right to hold up to three readings of legislation, to reject the legislation, and to hold conciliation meetings with the Council to negotiate a compromis agreement.

What does each Council formation manage?

A specialized policy sector and the participants authorized to adopt legislativee acts are the national ministers from each of the member states who hold domestic responsibility for that sector.

At any point in time, the Council maintains approximately how many working groups?

200.

What are working groups?

Working group officials are tasked with examining proposals in the early stages of negotiation, and the groups serve as a clearing house in which less controversial and/or more technical issues are settled. The working groups also act as an early warning system for complications or political issues that need addressing at the level of Coreper of the ministers.

Is the Council intergovernmental or supranational?

The Council blurs intergovernmental and supranational organizational traits and behaviours. The member states that participate in the system (ik: the Council) also become socialized into a collective decision-making system.

The question on the page originate from the summary of the following study material:

Tweeupp

View summary