Legislation, budget, summits, court matters and cooperation regarding the euro: the tasks of the EU are numerous and diverse. In order for the machinery to work, the EU has seven institutions where politicians, officials and other personnel from the member states work. The institutions work to implement the EU’s objectives and to safeguard the member states’ interests. The institutions’ roles and powers are regulated by the treaties which are like the Constitution of the EU.
The EU’s seven institutions constitute the foundation of the organisation. They work to promote the EU’s values, implement the Union’s objectives, ensure efficiency in activities and serve the interests of the EU countries. Representatives from member states, politicians, officials and other personnel from the member states work in each of the institutions.
The European Commission proposes and follows up legislation
The most important task of the European Commission is to propose new legislation. In addition, it implements decisions taken at EU level or ensures that the member states do. The European Commission comprises 27 commissioners: one from each country. The commissioners do not represent their own countries but consider the best interests of the EU as a whole.
The Council of the European Union decides on new EU legislation
The Council of the European Union consists of government ministers from the EU member states. The ministers represent their own countries. The Council’s most important task is to debate and take decisions on new EU legislation that is proposed by the European Commission. Ministers meet in different configurations depending on the matter to be discussed. If the topic of the meeting is agriculture, then the ministers of agriculture will meet. If foreign policy is on the agenda, the foreign ministers will meet. Decisions on new legislation are taken jointly by the Council and the European Parliament.
The Council of the European Union
The European Parliament decides on laws and the budget
Citizens of the member states elect the members of the European Parliament (MEPs) in general elections. Sweden is represented by 21 of a total of 720 MEPs. One of the MEPs’ tasks is to take decisions on new legislation together with the Council of the European Union. The European Parliament also takes decisions on the EU budget. Another important task is to examine and approve the work of the European Commission. If the Commission neglects or mismanages its duties, the European Parliament can vote on whether it must resign.
The European Council sets priorities and holds summits
The EU heads of state and government make up the European Council. Sweden, therefore, is represented by the Prime Minister. The main tasks of the European Council are to define the political direction and priorities for the EU and to set general guidelines for what the EU should engage in long-term. This constitutes the most formal level of EU cooperation and the European Council’s meetings are also referred to as summits. The EU leaders normally hold summits approximately four times per year but meet more often if required, such as in times of crisis.
The European Council
The Court of Justice of the EU resolves disputes
The task of the Court is to interpret EU law and to ensure that it is applied in a uniform way across all EU countries and EU institutions. In order to do this, the Court can resolve disputes between member states and between EU institutions. The Court can also dismiss laws and other legal instruments which conflict with the treaties or fundamental rights. A judge from each member state attends the Court.
Companies, organisations and private individuals can also in some cases consult the Court if they consider that their rights have been violated by an EU institution.
The European Central Bank keeps track of the euro and inflation
The European Central Bank (ECB) is a central bank for member states who have introduced the common euro currency. The ECB is also responsible for ensuring that inflation in the EU is kept at a low and stable level.
The European Court of Auditors tracks EU money
The European Court of Auditors keeps track of the EU’s revenues and expenditures. It can examine all organisations, authorities and persons who receive or manage EU funds. The Court cannot penalise someone who has done something wrong. Instead, shortcomings that are identified are usually dealt with by member states’ own authorities.
If the Court identifies errors which it suspects were deliberate, it will report the matter to the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) and will send all information and relevant evidence to the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO).
Brussels is closely associated with the EU as it is the seat of several EU institutions. However, EU institutions are also located in Strasbourg, Luxembourg and Frankfurt. The EU countries have agreed on where the institutions are to be located. Over the years, the countries have struggled to agree on this matter.
EU member states decide on where the EU institutions should be located by means of negotiation. The fact that the Belgian capital of Brussels, the French city of Strasbourg, the German city of Frankfurt and Luxembourg are the seats for various institutions is based on decisions that have been taken over the years, including a decision in 1992 by the EU member states at the time.
Since 1997, the decision regarding the seats is set out in the EU treaties, in other words the rules for EU cooperation. In order to change the seat of an institution, a treaty amendment is required and all EU countries must agree to it.
EU countries have during the course of EU history struggled to agree on the matter of where the EU institutions should be located. The original plan to decide on a common seat for all institutions has been abandoned.
The first decision on the matter was taken during the 1950s by the member states at the time: Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany, France and Italy. They determined that Luxembourg was to be a temporary seat for the institutions and that Strasbourg be the seat for what today is the European Parliament.
A few years later, when cooperation had deepened and more institutions had been established, the member states determined that Brussels, Luxembourg and Strasbourg should serve as temporary seats for the institutions. During the 1960s however, when several institutions were combined, they were placed in Brussels instead of Luxembourg. Luxembourg was compensated by a decision in 1965 that the Council of the European Union would be located in Luxembourg for a few months a year, as well as a few other institutions.
