European Union Institutions

Composition Commission 27 (one Commissioner from each Member State, including the President of the Commission and the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy) 5 years Elected by the EP on proposal from the European Council for a term of 5 years Art. 17 TEU Parliament 751 (representatives of the Union's citizens) The members of the European Parliament shall be elected by direct universal suffrage in a free and secret ballot (Article 14 TEU) 5 years Elected by the Members of the EP for a term of 2 and a half years Council 27 (one minister from each Member State) ten different configurations European Council 29 (27 Heads of Government and State of the MSs, the President of the European Council, and the President of the Commission)

Term President

No term and floating membership The various configurations of the Council are chaired by each Member State in turn for six months, with the exception of the Council of Foreign Ministries that is chaired by the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. The programme of each Presidency is agreed with the next two Presidencies and is valid for a period of 18 months Co-legislator together with the EP

At least twice every half a year Elected by the Heads of Government and State of the MSs for a term of 2 and a half years

Role in the ordinary legislative procedure

in the special legislative procedure

Primary powers to initiate Union legislation, except where the Treaties provide otherwise a group of Member States or other institutions, such as the EP on a recommendation from the ECB or at the request of the ECJ or the EIB Primary powers to initiate Union legislation, except where the Treaties provide otherwise a group of Member States or other EU institutions Conducts negotiations, but acts on the mandate of the Council and in accordance with the Councils directives therein

Co-legislator together with the Council

No powers to pass laws but at a request of Member States it can deal with sensitive issues concerning Police Cooperation, Judicial Cooperation in criminal matters, and social security

in the making of international agreements

Depending on the applicable rules: is consulted approves a draft act of the Council except in the cases where it has to take a decision Depending on the applicable rules: is consulted approves the draft agreement

Decides, except in the cases where it approves the draft act of the EP

See above

Concludes agreements