Behind the Scenes
This politically independent executive body of the European Union is responsible for proposing new laws, enforcing EU legislation, managing policies and the budget, and representing the EU internationally.
What is the European Commission
The European Union officially recognizes this number of core institutions.
What is 7?
Signed in 1992, this treaty is considered to be the foundational treaty of the European Union.
What is the Maastricht Treaty?
Considered as the EU's executive arm, this European institution is charged with implementing the decisions of Parliament and the council.
It is considered by many to be the de facto capital of the EU.
What is Brussels Home to the European Commission, European Council, Council of the European Union, European Parliament and many other EU institutions,
This instution acts if a national court has doubts about the interpretation or validity of an EU law, it may, and sometimes must, seek advice from this institution, which provides guidance in the form of a preliminary ruling to ensure uniform application of EU law across all member states.
What is The Court of Justice
(Hint: Its largest land border is with Brazil)
What is France?
Coming into force on January 1st, 1958, this convention was intended to limit the number of institutions needed to perform similar tasks in the three European communities.
What is the Convention on certain institutions common to the European Communities?
This European institution was set up in 1952 under the ECSC treaties. Its current role is to uphold the law and to ensure that it is applied equally throughout all member nations.
What is the European Court of Justice?
This institution, responsible for economic and financial stability, is headquartered in Frankfurt, Germany.
What is the European Central Bank?
As part of the co-decision procedure, this sub-entity is made up of equal numbers of representatives from the European Parliament and the Council of the EU and is responsible for resolving disagreements on proposed legislation before it can be adopted.
What is the Conciliation Committee?
This intergovernmental organisation is comprised of 46 member countries, including the 25 EU member nations. However it is not a EU institution.
What is the Council of Europe?
Established in 1977, this governmental body would go on to become a European institution with the treaty of Maastricht
What is the European Court of Auditors?
In order to democratically represent all citizens of the European Union, this European Institution, with origins that trace back to the ECSC treaties of 1952, holds elections every five years.
What is the European Parliament?
This is the city where most of the plenary sessions of the Parliament take place.
What is Strasbourg?
Introduced by the Lisbon Treaty and fully implemented in 2014, this voting system in the Council of the EU requires at least 55% of member states (or 72% in certain cases) representing at least 65% of the EU population to pass most laws
What is Qualfied majority voting (QMV)
These eleven high-ranking functionaries work as assistants to the 27 judges of the European Court of Justice.
What are advocate generals?
In 2007, this treaty would create a single European Union with legal personality.
What is the Treaty of Lisbon?
What is the Council of the European Union?
This city is home to the Court of Justice of the European Union.
What is Luxembourg?
Held in Strasbourg once a month and sometimes in Brussels this is the stage where Members of the European Parliament debate and vote on legislation, amendments, and other key issues concerning the European Union.
What is the "Plenary session"
The treaty of Lisbon increased the maximum of members of this European Institution to 751.
What is the European Parliament?
In 1989, this judicial body of was established to assist the Court of Justice of the European Union
Court of First Instance
by handling cases brought by private individuals, companies, and certain organizations, particularly in matters related to competition law.
Despite having no direct legislative powers, this Institution is considered to be at the apex of the institutional structure of the European Union
What is the European Council?
This is an intergovernmental organisation, independent of the EU institutions, based in the Palais de l'Europe in Strasbourg.
What is The Council of Europe