Is the EU Democratic? Part 2 – the Council of the European Union | #EUDemocracyExplained
Summary
TLDRCe script présente le Conseil de l'Union européenne, un organe clé dans le processus législatif de l'UE. Il explique sa structure en dix configurations, chacune se concentrant sur un domaine politique spécifique, et sa fonction de représenter les gouvernements nationaux. Le script explore également le concept de légitimité double de l'UE, la présidence tournante et les mécanismes de vote, soulignant l'importance de la transparence et de la participation des États membres dans l'élaboration des lois européennes.
Takeaways
- 😀 Le Conseil de l'Union européenne (CUE) est une institution clé dans la législation de l'UE, représentant les intérêts des citoyens européens via leurs gouvernements nationaux.
- 🏛️ Le Conseil est distinct du Conseil européen, ayant des membres, des rôles et des structures différents, bien que tous deux représentent des aspects des gouvernements nationaux des États membres.
- 📚 Le Conseil est divisé en 10 configurations différentes, chacune se concentrant sur un domaine politique spécifique, avec la participation des ministres des gouvernements nationaux concernés.
- 🌐 La structure du Conseil permet le développement d'expertise thématique spécialisée liée à chaque domaine politique, similaire à la division en ministères des gouvernements nationaux.
- 📅 Le Conseil se réunit fréquemment, entre 70 à 80 fois par an, en fonction de la configuration et de la nature du dossier à traiter.
- 🗳️ Le processus décisionnel du Conseil comprend trois options de vote : unanimité, majorité qualifiée et majorité simple, reflétant les besoins de consensus et de représentation des États membres.
- 🌐 Le Secrétariat général du Conseil, avec environ 3000 fonctionnaires, soutient le travail du Conseil et du Conseil européen, y compris la coordination, la logistique et la traduction.
- 🔄 La présidence tournante du Conseil, détenue par un État membre de l'UE pendant six mois, permet à chaque État membre de guider l'institution et de participer activement à l'élaboration de l'agenda de l'UE.
- 🌐 Le Conseil joue un rôle crucial dans le processus législatif de l'UE, souvent en co-décision avec le Parlement européen, et est essentiel pour approuver ou rejeter les propositions de la Commission.
- 💡 Le Conseil illustre la 'double légitimité' de l'UE, combinant les intérêts des gouvernements nationaux et des citoyens européens, et soulève des questions sur la nature complexe et multiforme de l'UE en tant qu'entité.
Q & A
Quel est le rôle du Conseil de l'Union européenne dans le triangle institutionnel de l'UE?
-Le Conseil de l'Union européenne joue un rôle crucial dans le processus législatif de l'UE, représentant les intérêts des citoyens européens via leurs gouvernements nationaux. Il est l'un des trois points du triangle institutionnel de l'UE, aux côtés de la Commission européenne et du Parlement européen.
Comment le Conseil de l'Union européenne est-il différent du Conseil européen?
-Le Conseil de l'Union européenne est un organe institutionnel qui décide de la législation au sein du triangle institutionnel, tandis que le Conseil européen est composé des dirigeants des États membres et définit les orientations politiques générales et les priorités de l'UE.
Quelle est la structure du Conseil de l'Union européenne?
-Le Conseil de l'Union européenne est divisé en 10 configurations différentes, chacune se concentrant sur un domaine politique spécifique, avec la participation des ministres des gouvernements nationaux concernés.
Quelle est la fonction de la Secrétariat général du Conseil?
-La Secrétariat général du Conseil soutient le travail du Conseil et du Conseil européen en fournissant une assistance, un conseil et une coordination, en préparant les projets d'ordre du jour, les rapports, les notes et les procès-verbaux des réunions, et en assurant le service de traduction.
Comment le Conseil de l'Union européenne gère-t-il son charge de travail intense?
-Le Conseil gère son charge de travail intense avec l'aide de la Secrétariat général et grâce à la structure de la présidence tournante, qui permet à chaque État membre de diriger l'institution pendant six mois.
Quels sont les trois options de vote disponibles au Conseil de l'Union européenne?
-Le Conseil de l'Union européenne peut décider par unanimité, par majorité qualifiée ou par simple majorité, selon le type de décision et la politique concernée.
Pourquoi le système de vote au Conseil de l'Union européenne est-il important?
-Le système de vote garantit que chaque pays ait une voix dans les décisions de l'UE, permettant ainsi de trouver des compromis et d'assurer une légitimité démocratique aux décisions prises.
Comment le Conseil de l'Union européenne contribue-t-il à la dualité de légitimité de l'UE?
-Le Conseil, en représentant les gouvernements nationaux, contribue à la dualité de légitimité de l'UE en combinant l'autorité démocratique des gouvernements élus avec celle du Parlement européen, élu directement par les citoyens.
Quelle est la présidence tournante du Conseil et comment fonctionne-t-elle?
-La présidence tournante est un système où chaque État membre de l'UE dirige le Conseil pour une période de six mois, aidé par la Secrétariat général du Conseil pour assurer une transition fluide et efficace.
Comment le Conseil de l'Union européenne contribue-t-il à la construction d'une Union plus étroite entre les pays de l'UE?
-Le Conseil, en travaillant en coopération avec les autres institutions de l'UE, contribue à la construction d'une Union plus étroite en facilitant l'échange d'expertise, en construisant des capacités et en aidant à élaborer des politiques qui servent les intérêts des citoyens européens.
Outlines
😀 Introduction to the Council of the European Union
Le premier paragraphe introduit le Conseil de l'Union européenne, un des piliers du triangle institutionnel de l'UE, et explique son rôle dans le processus législatif. Il est présenté comme un mécanisme de représentation des intérêts des citoyens européens via leurs gouvernements nationaux, en contraste avec le Parlement européen, qui représente les citoyens directement. Le script clarifie également les différences entre le Conseil de l'UE et le Conseil européen, soulignant leurs membres, leurs rôles et leurs structures distincts. Le Conseil européen, créé en 1974, est composé des dirigeants des États membres et définit les orientations politiques générales de l'UE, tandis que le Conseil de l'UE est chargé de prendre des décisions législatives.
🏛 Fonctionnement et structure du Conseil de l'Union européenne
Le deuxième paragraphe explore en détail le fonctionnement et la structure du Conseil de l'UE, qui est divisé en dix configurations différentes, chacune se concentrant sur un domaine politique spécifique. Chaque configuration est composée des ministres nationaux compétents dans ce domaine. Le paragraphe explique également l'importance de cette structure en termes de développement d'expertise thématique et de prise de décision efficace. Le Conseil se réunit fréquemment, de 70 à 80 fois par an, en fonction des besoins législatifs et de la nature des dossiers. Le soutien au Conseil est assuré par le Secrétariat général du Conseil, qui fournit un soutien logistique et prépare les documents nécessaires à la prise de décision.
🗳️ Procédures de vote et transparence au sein du Conseil
Le troisième paragraphe aborde les différentes options de vote au sein du Conseil, y compris l'unanimité, la majorité qualifiée et la majorité simple. Il explique comment ces procédures garantissent que chaque pays ait sa voix entendue et contribue au processus décisionnel. Le paragraphe souligne également les efforts pour assurer la transparence, notamment en rendant publiques les résultats des votes, en diffusant en direct les sessions de discussion législative et en permettant aux ministres d'ajouter des notes explicatives à leurs décisions. Le Conseil est présenté comme un exemple de mécanisme de responsabilisation verticale, permettant aux citoyens de suivre l'action de leur gouvernement au nom de l'UE.
🌐 Nature et théories de l'intégration de l'Union européenne
Le quatrième paragraphe s'intéresse à la nature complexe de l'UE et aux théories qui tentent d'expliquer son évolution et ses objectifs. Il mentionne les perspectives fédérales et intergouvernementales, ainsi que la dualité de légitimité de l'UE, reflétée par la représentation des gouvernements nationaux et des citoyens directement élus. Le paragraphe conclut en soulignant la complexité de l'UE, qui intègre divers modèles de coopération et d'intégration politique, économique et juridique. Le Conseil joue un rôle clé dans ce processus, en approuvant ou en rejetant les propositions législatives de la Commission, en coopération avec le Parlement européen.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Conseil de l'Union européenne
💡Triangle institutionnel
💡Double légitimité
💡Présidence tournante
💡Majorité qualifiée
💡Conseil européen
💡Secrétariat général du Conseil
💡Configurations du Conseil
💡Transparence
💡Intégration européenne
Highlights
The Council of the European Union represents European citizens' interests through their national governments.
The Council is distinct from the European Council, despite their similar names, with different members and roles.
The European Council sets the EU's agenda, while the Council of the EU decides on legislation.
The Council is organized into 10 configurations, each focusing on a specific policy area.
The Council meets frequently, 70 to 80 times per year, to address legislative proposals.
The General Secretariat of the Council supports the work of both the Council and the European Council.
The 'Rotating Presidency of the Council' allows each EU Member State to lead the institution for six months.
The Council has three voting options: unanimity, qualified majority, and simple majority.
Voting results in the Council are made public to ensure transparency.
The EU's legislative process involves a complex interplay between supranational and intergovernmental elements.
The Council's role in the EU's legislative process is crucial for defining the EU's nature as an entity.
The EU's integration process is driven by active choices of EU Member States, reflecting a mix of integration theories.
The Council's voting procedures aim to ensure that all countries' voices are heard and compromises are reached.
The European Parliament, which represents EU citizens directly, plays a significant role in the EU's legislative process.
The Council's configurations and their roles are essential for understanding the EU's decision-making process.
The transparency and accountability mechanisms in the Council allow citizens to monitor their government's actions.
Transcripts
Welcome back to EU Democracy Explained. In the last episode we explored the concept of democratic
accountability and how it applies to the European Commission, and we discovered the ‘Institutional
Triangle’, which is where EU legislation gets made. Now, in that triangle there is a dual
legitimacy, where European citizens’ interests are represented via two avenues; the directly
elected European Parliament, on the one hand, and the Institution we are going to talk about today,
the Council, of the European Union, where citizens are represented via each of their national
governments. We’ll explore its makeup, its role and internal functioning, and we’ll discover what
its crucial role in the legislative process might mean in terms of defining what the EU actually
is. The Council of the European Union, commonly referred to as “the Council”, was established
in the 1950s as the “Council of Ministers” in order to provide a State-driven counter-balance
to the supranational High Authority of the then-European Coal and Steel Community,
the body that would later develop into the modern European Commission. Before we go further though,
we need to clarify a common misunderstanding. You see, the Council of the European Union (even
if it is referred to in shorthand as “the Council”) is not the only “council” in the
system – there is also the European Council. But these are very different institutions,
with different members and completely different roles. While the Council of the EU has its
origins in the treaties, the European Council was created in 1974 by the Heads of State or
Government of the Member States. It only became an EU institution in the Lisbon Treaty of 2009,
the agreement which sets out the functioning of the European Union and which is still in force
today. Lisbon codified European Council practices that had been developed since its foundation,
added a full-time President (you might recognise names like Herman van Rompuy, Donald Tusk,
or Charles Michel), and limited the Institution’s composition to the Heads and State or Government,
whereas previously, Foreign Ministers had participated as well. While the Council of the
EU decides on legislation within the institutional triangle, the European Council defines the Union’s
general political directions and priorities – in other words, it sets the EU’s agenda. Now, you
can understand why the differences between these two bodies can appear confusing at first: you have
two institutions that – first of all - sound very similar, and which both represent aspects
of the national governments of the Member States. But they have different memberships, leadership
structures, frequencies of meetings, and, crucially, they have strikingly different roles in
the EU’s institutional structure. We’ll return to the European Council in a future episode, but now
that we’re clear on the differences between the two, let’s delve deeper in the role and structure
of the Council of the European Union. The Council is legally-speaking one single entity, but it is
divided into 10 different configurations, each focusing on a specific policy area, with the
relevant national government ministers attending. These are: General Affairs; Economic and Financial
Affairs; Justice and Home Affairs; Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs;
Competitiveness; Transport, Telecommunications and Energy; Agriculture and Fisheries; Environment;
and Education, Youth, Culture and Sport. One important configuration is Foreign Affairs: unlike
the others, this one is chaired by the EU’s High Representative. Now, that’s a lot to consider, but
the detail of each configuration’s work is a story for another time. For now, let’s focus on the main
benefit of structuring an institution’s work in this way – and it’s actually a similar benefit,
although it is applied differently, to the one that the Commission pursues when it divides
itself into policy-relevant Directorates-General, or that the Parliament pursues when it appoints
its members to Committees or Sub-Committees. It allows the institution to develop specialised,
thematic expertise linked to each different policy-area. This kind of division within a
governmental institution is commonplace across global democracies, and it’s actually the same
benefit that national governments are seeking out when they divide themselves into different
ministries. But, as we know, the EU shouldn’t be compared to a national government. For the
Council (which still operates within a wider system, we shouldn’t forget),
the benefit of dividing its configurations by policy area is that each relevant minister from
the national governments can contribute where they have the most relevant expertise, and crucially,
where they are empowered by their governments to make decisions. The extra scope for detailed
discussion this structure affords is reflected in the fact that the Council meets, in its various
guises, very frequently: 70 to 80 times per year. Different configurations meet with different
frequency: some, like General Affairs and Foreign Affairs (among others), meet on a monthly basis;
others, like Education, Youth, Culture and Sport for instance, meet less frequently, maybe twice
per semester. This variety is a function of two key factors: first, the Council’s legislative
function (because in order to decide on a proposal dealing with a specific policy area, the relevant
Council configuration needs to meet), and second, the nature of the file: for instance, Foreign
Affairs requires regular exchanges and political decisions, so naturally that configuration meets
more regularly. As we discovered last episode, the institutional triangle is the key component of how
EU legislation gets passed, and part of that triangle is that, whether under the ordinary
legislative procedure or not, the Council needs to decide yes or no on all proposals coming from the
Commission. This requires an intense commitment on the part of the Council to make sure all the files
are addressed adequately, and to ensure a proper dialogue between the Council and Parliament, as
well as with the Commission. Hence, a significant support structure for the decision-makers in each
Council meeting, and a high frequency of meetings. The Council is able to manage
this intense workload with the help of the 3000 or so civil servants in the General Secretariat
of the Council. Now, all EU institutions have a secretariat devoted to implementing their work,
but the GSC is unique insofar as it assists the work not only of the Council but also of the
European Council. Some of its core tasks include assisting, advising, and helping to coordinate the
work of both institutions, providing logistical support to meetings, and preparing draft agendas,
reports, notes and meeting minutes. The GSC also has its own translation service,
which you can imagine is crucial when it comes to ensuring that proposals make sense in all of the
24 official languages of the Union. Finally, the GSC has a crucial role in supporting something
called the ‘Rotating Presidency of the Council’. It advises the Presidency and prepares briefings
for it before each Council or Coreper meeting. The rotating presidency is perhaps the most unique
aspect of the Council’s structure and functioning: a different EU Member State holds the reins of the
institution on a 6-month basis. This means that in each configuration of the Council (except the
Foreign Affairs Council), the relevant national government minister from the country currently
holding the rotating presidency chairs. Each new presidency works in a so-called ‘trio’ with two
other presidencies, forming 18-month blocs; and the General Secretariat of the Council
works very closely with national politicians and civil servants to ensure each presidency runs
smoothly. What this system allows is for each of the EU Member States, from the biggest, richest,
and most powerful to the very smallest, to hold the reins on an equal basis. This gives a sense
of real ownership over the agenda, and creates a ‘club’ atmosphere between the 27, the benefit of
which (in terms of working together in the best interests of citizens) cannot be overstated.
If you’re interested in when your country will next hold the rotating presidency, you can even
look it up on the Council’s website, where the presidencies are listed up until 2030. To decide,
the Council has three voting options on the table. The first is ‘unanimity’, where everyone must
agree, but where there is an option to abstain. So you still have broad agreement, but a country
abstaining from a motion isn’t a formal ‘veto’. Unanimity applies to the most sensitive policy
areas, where major national interests are at stake and it is most important that everyone agrees.
These are areas like the Common Foreign and Security Policy of the EU, European citizenship,
and EU membership, among others. It also applies to some limited areas of policies like taxation.
The second is ‘qualified majority’, where a decision can only be taken if 55% of the Member
States representing 65% of the EU’s population agree – now, this does mean that your government
may not be in favour of the decision taken, but it does guarantee a so-called ‘double majority’
of support, thus giving a solid foundation of legitimacy to whatever decision is taken. Finally,
the third possibility is for the Council to vote by a simple majority, but this is only used in
cases of internal procedural decisions, or to request the Commission to undertake a study or
submit a proposal. It’s a complex mechanism, but it does give ample opportunity for each country’s
voice to be heard. Some people have described the Council as being “like a black hole”, but once you
look closer, you see that actually that’s not the case. To ensure transparency, voting results are
automatically made public and ministers are able to add explanatory notes to add context to their
decisions, the legislative documents that go to the Council are made publicly available, and when
the Council discusses legislation, the session is livestreamed! This is no “smoke-filled back room”,
rather, each of the 27 governments currently in the European Union get to decide on which
legislation gets passed, and which doesn’t. If you remember the concept of ‘vertical accountability’
we discussed last episode, this is an example of precisely that: a transparency mechanism
that allows you as a citizen to keep tabs on what your government is doing on your behalf.
This representation of the national governments forms a key part of the EU’s dual legitimacy,
and opens up a new question about the very nature of the EU as an entity. It’s difficult to consider
the nature of the EU as an entity without getting into the weeds of academic discourse,
and entire libraries’ worth of books have been written on the subject, which is far beyond
the scope of this video. In short, there are a number of different theories that you could use
to analyse what the modern EU is, could become, or should strive towards. Some, who prefer to look at
the EU institutions through a supranational lens, are in favour of building the EU towards a federal
system. Others analyse the EU through the theory of intergovernmental cooperation where the main
emphasis is on the role of national governments as the drivers of EU integration via the Council. As
we’ve discovered over the course of this series, these common refrains don’t quite tell the
full story. As we know, the EU is based on “dual legitimacy” provided by the democratically elected
national governments in the European Council and the Council and by the directly elected European
Parliament. Governments’ interests and citizens’ interests. You then bring in an independent
European Commission acting in the interest of the EU as a whole, and all the other institutions
that we discussed in the last episode. The way decisions get made in this system is defined
by the competences granted to the European Union, which themselves are set out in detail
in the Treaties on which the EU’s structures and functioning are based. Some competences
are exclusive, meaning the EU alone is able to pass legislation. Some competences are shared,
meaning both the EU and national governments are able to pass laws: these include employment and
social affairs, among others. Meanwhile, some are referred to as supporting competences,
where the EU can only support or complement the action of its Member States. And, mirroring this,
the way the Council works also depends on which policy area is being discussed. So you could say
that in some aspects the EU has more autonomy, although not quite in a fully federal way,
and that in others it functions in a much more intergovernmental manner. In the end,
active choices by EU Member States are key drivers of this ‘integration’ process, whereby
European countries deepen and widen their areas of integration or cooperation in political, economic,
and legal affairs among others. The proposals may come from the Commission, which represents
the interests of the EU as a whole, but they are decided on by the ministers in the Council,
who represent the interests of the EU Member States. And remember: the European Council, which
among other responsibilities sets the agenda, is made up of the Heads of State or Government,
and it mainly functions by consensus. So you have a system where national leaders in the European
Council set the agenda, and where proposals can’t become law unless national ministers in
the Council consent. The EU is a complex beast, with elements of all the different schools of
integration theory dotted about: it’s important to remember that. It’s too simplistic to say “the EU
is only intergovernmental”, or to artificially oppose any two schools of integration theory
(“intergovernmentalism versus supranationalism”). As an entity, the EU embraces plenty of different
approaches in order to find a compromise. And let’s think back to the different voting systems
we explored earlier: in the Council, where the emphasis is being put on finding compromise,
working together, reaching agreement, you have an in-built structure that helps to make policy
by agreeing together, you have a deliberative approach that allows for capacity-building and a
healthy exchange of expertise and best practices between the Member States, and, ultimately,
you have a compromise that helps build an ‘Ever Closer Union’ between EU countries, on their
own terms. Next episode we’ll be looking into the body that represents EU citizens directly:
the European Parliament. And while to the casual observer it might seem that the Parliament is the
natural place to find representation in the EU, the representation that we see in the Council is
just as important. We see it in the crucial role it plays in deciding on Commission proposals,
most often in co-decision with the Parliament. So next time one of your government’s ministers
comes to Brussels for a Council meeting, pay attention – you might just learn something.
And if that minister comes home and complains about the latest “imposition” from “Brussels”,
remember: their role in the Council is crucial in approving the EU’s legislation. In the meantime,
let us know your thoughts in the comments below: did you know about the different
Council configurations and their roles? Do you think its voting procedures ensure
enough protection for countries that may not support new proposals? And what about the
bigger questions on the fundamental nature of the EU? Thanks for watching, I hope you
enjoyed that video. If you’re interested in the rotating presidency of the Council,
be sure to check out our website, where we collect all of TEPSA’s work on the subject, from regular
conferences and policy recommendations, to this episode of EuropeChats all about
it. And if you want to learn more about the EU, be sure to like, comment, and subscribe!
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صعود اليمين المتطرف ببرلمان أوروبا يقلق السياسيين وتوقعات بتأثيره على المواقف من قضايا دولية
Humiliée, Ursula Von der Leyen tente un sale coup !
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