Video above: Why Europe's nationalist parties all sound alike.
For most Australians, government comes in three forms; local, state and federal.
On the opposite side of the globe in countries that are members of the European Union, there’s an additional layer of law.
The EU is a political and economic body that has developed a single market and system of legislations for its 28 member states.
Each country pays its membership, enabling free movement of goods and services within the common market – while the union has policy interests in peace, freedom, sustainable development, promoting science and technology, enhancing economic, social and territorial cohesion and persevering its cultural and linguistic diversity.
With elections for the EU Pparliament beginning today until Sunday May 26, here is a breakdown of how the EU came to be and how it functions.
A general view of European Union leaders attending the second day of a EU summit at the European Council in Brussels on October 18, 2018. Source: AFP
What is the European Union?
It does not have a single leader, and instead operates as a series of institutions.
- The European Commission
The main executive body effectively runs the day-to-day business of the EU and proposes new laws. Every member state has their own commissioner that is selected to be politically independent and put the EU’s interests before their own country’s. Each commissioner has their own portfolio in a similar function to a government’s cabinet. Jean-Claude Juncker is the current President of the European Council.
- The Council of the European Union
The council is composed of ministers from different member states that meet to discuss similar roles such as defence, education, finance, agriculture and more. Members meet to discuss, amend or adopt laws that are then sent to the European Parliament to be voted on.
- The European Parliament
European Parliament is the only directly-elected representative European body. It is ostensibly the voice of European citizens through the EU’s decision making and legislative process.
- The European Council
Leaders of EU member, such as the President of France and the Chancellor of Germany, states meet at the highest level for quarterly summits to discuss the overall political direction and priorities of the EU.
- The Court of Justice of the European Union
Ensures European law is interpreted and applied across the EU. It is the supreme court of the EU for matters of European Union law.
- European Court of Auditors
Though it has no jurisdictional function, it acts as an external auditor for the EU’s budget.
- The European Central Bank
Sets money policy in the Eurozone – the 19 countries that have adopted the Euro as their currency.
A mural reading 'The future is Europe' is seen on a building outside the EU Headquarters in Brussels. Source: AFP
When was it founded?
The foundations of the EU were borne out of a continent recovering from the huge human and financial toll of World II.
In 1957, six founding countries, France, West Germany, Belgium, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands signed the Treaty of Rome, creating the European Economic Community that would come into effect the next year. The agreement strengthened trade between countries and made them less likely to be drawn in to conflict if they were economic partners.
With more countries joining the agreements over the decades, the Maastricht Treaty was signed 1993, establishing the European Union as we know it and European Citizenship.
Who are the members?
The European Union currently has 28 member states, with the majority in continental Europe. In addition to the six founding states, the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland and Denmark joined the first expansion in 1973. Membership has grown since and now also includes Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.
Citizens of member states are also European citizens, allowing them free access to live and work in across other member states.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Where is it based?
The European Union is primarily headquartered in Brussels, Belgium. The European Commission, The Council of the European Union and The European Council call the Belgian capital home, while Parliament is headquartered in Strasbourg, France, but also operates out of Brussels and Luxembourg.
Both The Court of Justice and Court of Auditors are in Luxembourg, while the European Central Bank is located in Frankfurt, Germany.
How does it function?
Legislation from The Council of the European Union is voted on in the Parliament as the representative of the people
Across the 28 member states of the EU, 751 parliamentarians are elected to and serve five year terms. The number of seats available to each country is determined by population: Germany has the highest representation with 96 seats, while Cyprus, Estonia, Luxembourg and Malta are at the other end of the scale with six each.
Inside the parliament, Members of European Parliament (MEP) organise themselves into party groups according to their political outlook. There are currently nine groups – including one for unaffiliated MEPs – covering the spectrum of views including conservatives, socialists, centre-right, centre-left, greens and eurosceptics.
Parliament meets 12 times a year, for one-week plenary sessions where it approves or rejects legislation, establishes budgets and oversees some of the institutions with in the bloc. High profile legislation from the EU parliament recently covered banning the sale of EU-made arms to Saudi Arabia, copyright online, food standards and banning single use plastic items including plates and cutlery.
It does not make decisions or legislation on tax, health, housing or education – with those left to the individual member states.
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