Treaty: is a formal & legally binding agreement between two or more states or
international organizations. It is negotiated, signed, & often ratified by the parties
involved, and it governs their rights, obligations, and responsibilities in various areas,
such as trade, defense, or environmental protection.
Organs and functions (EU): (7) – PECCEC
- European Parliament (Brussels, Strasbourg, Luxembourg): Represents EU
citizens, directly elected. Holds legislative power, approves, rejects, or amends
laws.
- European Council (Brussels): Comprises heads of government, the European
Council President, and the European Commission President. Sets political direction
but does not legislate.
- Council of the European Union (Brussels, Luxembourg): Represents member
states, shares legislative and budgetary power with Parliament. Adopts laws,
negotiates, and coordinates policies.
- European Commission (Brussels, Luxembourg): Executive body, proposes laws,
implements decisions, enforces EU law, and manages day-to-day operations.
- Court of Justice of the EU (Luxembourg): Ensures uniform application and
interpretation of EU law, provides rulings on legal questions.
- European Court of Auditors (Luxembourg): Audits EU finances to ensure proper
budget management.
- European Central Bank (Frankfurt): Manages the euro, implements economic
and monetary policy, ensures price stability, and supervises banks.
EU competences: Exclusive Competences, Shared Competences and Supporting
Competences.
Exclusive Competences: Only the EU can legislate and adopt binding acts in these
areas. Member States can act only if empowered by the EU. Examples: customs union,
competition rules, trade policy, and monetary policy for the Eurozone.
Shared Competences: Both the EU and Member States can legislate and adopt binding
acts, but Member States can act only if the EU hasn’t exercised its competence.
Examples: internal market, environment, energy, and transport.
Supporting Competences: The EU can support, coordinate, or complement Member
States' actions without replacing their authority. Examples: culture, education, health,
and tourism.
Internal market: it’s the EU's single market where goods, services, capital, and people
can move freely across member states. It promotes economic integration, competition,
and growth by removing trade barriers and harmonizing rules.
Free movement of persons: it’s an EU principle allowing citizens to live, work, study, or
retire in any member state without needing special permits. It ensures equal treatment in
access to jobs, social benefits, and housing.
Preliminary reference: it’s a process where national courts ask the Court of Justice of the
EU (CJEU) for guidance on interpreting EU law. This ensures consistent application of EU
law across all member states.
CJEU: it’s the judicial body of the EU. It ensures EU law is interpreted and applied
consistently across member states and settles legal disputes between national
governments and EU institutions.
