What are the main bodies of the EU?
The Council of Ministers
The Council of Ministers (made up of ministers from national governments). The Council is the EU’s most important decision-making body. Its main task is to approve European laws. A government minister from each member country sits on the Council each time it meets. Member countries send different ministers depending on the subject being discussed. For example, Britain usually sends its Agriculture Minister when the Council is discussing agriculture. Sometimes a minister from the Scottish Executive or Welsh Assembly represents Britain. Most Council meetings are held in Brussels.
Every three months, the Presidents and Prime Ministers of the EU’s member countries go to summit meetings, where they are usually assisted by their Foreign Ministers. These are known as European Councils, and their job is to set down the guidelines for the EU’s work over the months ahead and to take the most important decisions.
The European Parliament
Its main role is to consider most of the laws proposed by the Commission and approve them in agreement with the Council. It monitors the actions of the other EU bodies, and helps to set the EU’s budget. Its members (MEPs) are elected every five years by the people of every member country. The Parliament meets in Strasbourg and Brussels.
The European Commission
It proposes new laws for the Council and Parliament to consider, and implements existing ones. Every member country nominates one Commissioner. Its head is the President of the Commission. From 1 November 2004, the President of the Commission will be José Manuel Durão Barroso, the former Prime Minister of Portugal. The Commission is based in Brussels.
The European Court
It ensures that European law agreed by all member countries is observed and applied fairly (though some issues such as foreign policy are outside its jurisdiction). Each member country sends a judge to the Court, which is based in Luxembourg.