The Institutions of the European Union. The European Parliament

Pre-reading task. Read the words. Mind the stress. A):

΄delegate u΄nique,person΄nel

΄censure re΄cruit,Euro΄pean

΄triangle en΄tirety,publi΄cation

΄safeguard co΄mmissioner,guaran΄tee

΄ombudsman le΄gitimacy,parlia΄mentary

΄budget re΄ject,demo΄cratically

΄plenary com΄mission,insti΄tution

B) Complete the word building table.

NounorVerb Adjective	Verb Noun
sovereignty	to delegate
to delegate	to safeguard
institution	to recruit
entirety	to reject
dispute	practice
practice	institution
power	privacy
privacy	publication
elector	to invest
to join	to response
to response	to complain
money	to strengthen

C)

Verb Person	Negative prefixes
employ	administration
appoint	function
elect	practice
address	formation

1. Check to see if you know the meanings of these key words for discussion

to pool [pu:l] pool interests pool resources	об’єднувати(ся), складати(ся;) діяти спільно, гуртом; об’єднати ресурси;
to delegate[΄deligeit] to delegate authority She was delegated to represent us.	делегувати, уповноважити, передавати повноваження; передавати повноваження; Їй доручили представляти нас.
to share [∫eə] to share the money equally between two brothers to share one's problems with smb. shared	ділити, розподіляти; спільно користуватися; поділити гроші порівно між двома братами;   поділитися проблемами з кимсь;   спільний, загальний;
to seek (+inf.) (sought)   They sought to kill him. to seek a sanction to seek redress	намагатися, прагнути (зробити щось); добиватися, вимагати; просити; шукати; Вони намагалися вбити його. добиватися застосування санкцій; вимагати, шукати відшкодування в суді;
to uphold (upheld) to uphold smb.'s spirit	підтримувати; дотримуватись; підтримати чиїсь моральні сили;
triangle[΄traiæŋgl] the eternal triangle	трикутник; вічний трикутник;
vital [΄vaitl] vital force a question of vital importance	життєво необхідний; життєва сила; питання життєвої необхідності;
to safeguard[΄seifga:d] to safeguard one’s house against burglars	охороняти; охороняти свій будинок від злодіїв;
data[΄deitə] (pl.) datum [΄deitəm] (sing.) These data do not support the conclusions.	данні, факти, свідчення;   Ці данні не підтверджують висновків.
personnel [,pə:sə΄nel] government personnel qualified personnel	персонал, кадри; урядові службовці; кваліфіковані службовці;
ombudsman [΄ombudzmən]	омбудсмен (уповноважений з розгляду скарг щодо порушення прав людини)
staff [sta:f] to fill up staff vacancies correctional staff investigative staff	штат службовців; службовий персонал; укомплектувати штат; штат службовців виправних закладів; штат службовців слідчого органа;
to recruit [ri´kru:t] to recruit volunteers from friendly countries	поповнювати ряди; наймати, набирати; набирати добровольців із дружніх країн;
roll electoral roll to take the roll = to call the roll	реєстр, каталог, список, відомість; виборчий реєстр; робити перекличку; викликати за списком;
legitimacy [li´dЗitiməsi] to challenge, question the legitimacy (of sth.) to confirm the legitimacy	законність, відповідність законам; ставити законність під сумнів;   підтвердити законність;
to exercise to exercise religion to exercise rights	виконувати; здійснювати; сповідувати релігію; здійснювати права;
to reject [ri´dЗekt] to reject a hypothesis to reject a bid to reject a motion	відхиляти; відкинути гіпотезу; відкинути (ділову) пропозицію; відхилити клопотання;
budget [´badЗit] to draw up a budget to submit a budget to adhere to budget; to keep, remain within a budget to exceed, stretch a budget to cut, reduce a budget annual budget	бюджет; фінансовий кошторис; складати кошторис; подати кошторис на розгляд; дотримуватися кошторису; не перевищувати витрати, зафіксовані у кошторисі; виходити за межі кошторису; скорочувати, урізати кошторис; річний бюджет;
purse [pə:s] public purse to have a common purse	гаманець; грошовий фонд; казна; громадський фонд; ділити витрати порівну;
nomination to place / put sb in nomination	призначення на посаду; призначити когось на посаду;
to censure [´sen∫ə] /censure Censure is a procedure for publicly reprimanding a public official for inappropriate behavior.	засуджувати, ганьбити; осуд; осудження; ганьба;
entirety [in´taiəti] entirety of ownership tenants by entireties	цільність, нероздільність; сукупність власницьких прав; нероздільність співвласників

2. Read and translate the text.

The Institutions of the European Union

The European Union (EU ) is not a federation like the United States. Nor is it simply an organization for cooperation between governments, like the United Nations. It is, in fact, unique [ju:´ni:k]. The countries that make up the EU (its ‘member states’) remain independent sovereign [´sovrin] nations but they pool their sovereignty in order to gain strength and world influence none of them could have on their own.

Pooling sovereignty means, in practice, that the member states delegate some of their decision-making powers to shared institutions they have created, so that decisions on specific matters of joint interest can be made democratically at European level.

The EU’s decision-making process in general and the co-decision procedure in particular involve three main institutions:

• the European Parliament (EP), which represents the EU’s citizens and is elected by them;
• the Council of the European Union, which represents the individual member states;
• the European Commission, which seeks to uphold the interests of the Union as a whole.

This ‘institutional triangle’ produces the policies and laws that apply throughout the EU. In principle, it is the Commission that proposes new laws, but it is the Parliament and the Council that adopt them.

Two other institutions have a vital part to play: the Court of Justice upholds the rule of European law, and the Court of Auditors checks the financing of the Union’s activities.

In addition to its institutions, the EU has a number of other bodies that play specialized roles:

- the European Economic and Social Committee represents civil society, employers and employees;

- the Committee of the Regions represents regional and local authorities;

- the European Investment Bank finances EU investment projects and helps small business via the European Investment Fund;

- the European Central Bank is responsible for European monetary policy;

- the European Ombudsman investigates complaints about maladministration by EU institutions and bodies;

- the European Data Protection Supervisor safeguards the privacy of people’s personal data;

- the Office for Official Publications of the European Communities publishes information about the EU;

- the European Personnel Selection Office recruits staff for the EU institutions and other bodies;

- the European Administrative School task is to provide training in specific areas for members of EU staff.

The European Parliament

The European Parliament (EP)is elected by the citizens of the European Union to represent their interests. Its origins go back to the 1950s and the founding treaties, and since 1979 its members have been directly elected by the people they represent.

Elections are held every five years, and every EU citizen who is on an electoral roll is entitled to vote. The present parliament has 785 members from all 27 EU countries. Nearly one third of them are women.

Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) do not sit in national blocks, but in seven Europe-wide political groups (e.g. European People’s party (Christian Democrats) and European Democrats, Socialist Group, etc.).

The EP has three places of work: Brussels [´brΛslz] (Belgium), Luxembourg [´lΛks(ə)mbəg] and Strasbourg [´stræzbəg] (France). Luxembourg is home to the administrative offices (the ‘General Secretariat’). Meetings of the whole Parliament, known as ‘plenary [´pli:nəri] sessions’, take place in Strasbourg and sometimes in Brussels. Committee meetings are also held in Brussels.

Parliament has three main roles:

1. Passing European laws – jointly with the Council in many policy areas. The fact that the EP is directly elected by the citizens helps guarantee the democratic legitimacy of European law.

2. Parliament exercises democratic supervision over the other EU institutions, and in particular the Commission. It has the power to approve or reject the nomination of commissioners, and it has the right to censure the Commission as a whole.

3. The power of the purse. Parliament shares with the Council authority over the EU budget and can therefore influence EU spending. At the end of the procedure, it adopts or rejects the budget in its entirety.

Parliament’s work is divided into two main stages:

1. Preparing for the plenary sessions. This is done by the MEPs in the various parliamentary committees that specialize in particular areas of EU activity. The issues for debate are also discussed by the political groups.

2. The plenary session itself. Plenary sessions are normally held in Strasbourg (one week per month) and sometimes in Brussels (two days only). At these sessions, Parliament examines proposed legislation and votes on amendments before coming to a decision on the text as a whole.

3. Give the Ukrainian equivalents to the following words and phrases.

an organization for cooperation between governments; shared institutions; decisions on specific matters of joint interest; to represent the individual member states; ‘institutional triangle’; to produce the policies and laws; to play a vital part; to uphold the rule of European law; employers and employees; to finance EU investment projects; to help small business via the European Investment Fund; European Ombudsman; to investigate complaints about maladministration; founding treaties; to guarantee democratic legitimacy of European law; to approve or reject the nomination of commissioners; to censure the Commission as a whole; Europe-wide political groups; to examine proposed legislation; power of the Purse; to vote on amendments.

4. Find the English equivalents to the following words and phrases.

Держави-члени Європейського Союзу; об’єднати свої суверенітети, щоб отримати силу; передати свої повноваження стосовно прийняття рішень; на європейському рівні; намагатися підтримувати інтереси Союзу в цілому; застосовувати по всьому ЄС; пропонувати закони; перевіряти фінансову діяльність Союзу; Європейський інвестиційний фонд; особисті данні; набирати кадри для інституцій ЄС; виборчий реєстр; мати право голосувати; демократичний нагляд над іншими інституціями ЄС; ділити повноваження з Радою стосовно бюджету; питання для обговорення.

5. Match the definition in the right column to the word in the left.

1.ombudsman	a. to get a new member of a society, group, etc;
2. to censure	b. official list or record of names;
3. to recruit	c. to share in common; put (money, resources, etc) together for the use of all who contribute;
4. to uphold	d. experienced person having authority to inquire into grievances of citizens against public authorities;
5. to pool	e. estimate of probable future income and expenditure, esp. that made by a Government;
6. personnel	f. facts, things certainly known and from which conclusions may be drawn;
7. budget	g. criticize unfavourably for something;
8. roll	h. persons employed in any work, esp. public undertaking and the armed forces;
9. data	i. i. to support and approve (a person, his conduct, a practice)

6. Fill in the gaps with the suitable word. A:

Censured;shared; employees; treaty; pooled; upheld; delegated; data; recruited; employers; exercising

1. He already is being heavily … by the country's top college coaches. 2. They signed a…. to settle all border disputes by arbitration. 3. The House … the Member of Parliament for his rude remark to the Minister. 4. …… often make …. redundant. 5. Kyiv University has always … freedom-loving spirit. 6. They are merely ….. their right to free speech. 7. The chairman is unable to attend the meeting, so he has ….. his voting powers to the secretary. 8. They … their efforts to get better results. 9. Bill and I … an office for years. 10. … are groups of information that represent the qualitative or quantitative attributes of a variable or set of variables.

B: Fill in the appropriate proposition or adverb where necessary.

1. This medicine will safeguard you … a return … the disease. 2. When the president is censured, it serves … a condemnation and has no direct effect … the validity … presidency, nor are there any other particular legal consequences. 3. The European Union is, … fact, unique. 4. The member states make decisions … specific matters … joint interest democratically … European level. 5. The member states, … practice, delegate some … their decision-making powers … shared institutions. 6. The decision-making process in the EU … general and the co-decision procedure … particular involve the three main institutions. 7. The policies and laws produced … this ‘institutional triangle’ apply ……. the EU. 8. Parliament shares … the Council authority … the EU budget. 9. Parliament examines proposed legislation and votes … amendments … the plenary sessions. 10. Parliament adopts or rejects the budget … its entirety.

7. Look through the text again and decide if the following statements are true or false. Correct those, which are false. Use the text and your own knowledge.

1. The European Union (EU) is a political and military union of twenty-seven member states, located primarily in Europe. 2. The activities of the EU are regulated by a single institution – Parliament. 3. The European Council is composed of one representative per member state — either its head of state or head of government — plus the President of the Commission. 4. The European Parliament forms one half of the EU's legislature. 5. MEPs are elected on a national basis, so they sit according to their nationality. 6. The Court of Justice has the power to reject or censure the Commission and the EU budget. 7. The Parliament and the Council form and pass legislation jointly, using co-decision, in certain areas of policy.

8. Answer the questions.

1. What kind of organization is the European Union? 2. Why do the member states pool their sovereignty? 3. What are the main bodies and their functions of the UE? 4. What legislative functions does this institutional triangle have? 5. What is the role of theCourt of Justice and the Court of Auditors? 6. What are other bodies that play specialized roles? 7. How is the European Parliament elected? 8. Where are the places of work of the European Parliament? 9. What are the main roles of the European Parliament? 10. What does passing European laws mean? 11. What is meant by democratic supervision? 12. What is the power of the Purse? 13. What stages is Parliament’s work divided into?

9. Translate into English in writing.

Європейський Парламент — одна з п'яти інституцій Європейського Союзу, асамблея, яка представляє майже 500-мільйонне населення.

Починаючи з 1979 року Європейський Парламент обирають прямим загальним голосуванням; місця в ньому розподілені між країнами-членами відповідно до чисельності населення. Парламент виконує такі основні функції:

· разом з Радою, бере участь у законодавчому процесі через численні процедури (процедура спільного ухвалювання рішень, процедура співпраці, узгодження, консультативний висновок тощо);

· контролює діяльність інституцій Союзу, затверджуючи склад Комісії (та через право висловлювати їй вотум недовіри), а також через письмові й усні запити, які він може адресувати Комісії та Раді;

· поділяє з Радою бюджетні повноваження, а саме: ухвалює річний бюджет та контролює його виконання.

Європарламент також призначає омбудсмена, уповноваженого розглядати скарги від громадян Союзу з приводу порушень у діяльності інституцій та органів Спільноти. Зрештою, Парламент може створювати тимчасові комітети з розслідування, чиї повноваження не обмежуються вивченням діяльності інституцій Спільноти, а можуть поширюватись і на дії країн-членів із впровадження політики Спільноти.

10. Additional Text. Translate into English in writing.

The Treaty of Lisbon

The Treaty of Lisbon (initially known as the Reform Treaty) is an international agreement signed in Lisbon on 13 December 2007 designed to change the workings of the European Union (EU). Having been ratified by all EU member states, the treaty entered into force on 1 December 2009. The treaty amended the Treaty on European Union (TEU, Maastricht; 1992) and the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC, Rome; 1957). In the process, the TEC was renamed to Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).

Prominent changes included more qualified majority voting in the Council of Ministers, increased involvement of the European Parliament in the legislative process through extended co-decision with the Council of Ministers, eliminating the pillar system and the creation of a President of the European Council with a term of two and a half years and a High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy to present a united position on EU policies. The Treaty of Lisbon will also make the Union's human rights charter, the Charter of Fundamental Rights, legally binding.

The stated aim of the treaty is "to complete the process started by the Treaty of Amsterdam (1997) and by the Treaty of Nice (2001) with a view to enhancing the efficiency and democratic legitimacy of the Union and to improving the coherence of its action." Negotiations to modify EU institutions began in 2001, resulting first in the European Constitution, which failed due to rejection by French and Dutch voters in 2005. The Constitution's replacement, the Lisbon Treaty, was originally intended to have been ratified by all member states by the end of 2008. This timetable failed, primarily due to the initial rejection of the Treaty in 2008 by the Irish electorate.

At the European Council meeting on 18 October and 19 October 2007 in Lisbon, a few last-minute concessions were made to ensure the signing of the treaty. That included giving Poland a slightly stronger wording for the revived Ioannina Compromise, plus a nomination for an additional Advocate General at the European Court of Justice. The creation of the permanent "Polish" Advocate General was formally permitted by an increase of the number of Advocates General from 8 to 11.

As an amending treaty, the Treaty of Lisbon is not intended to be read as an autonomous text. It consists of a number of amendments to the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty establishing the European Community, the latter being renamed 'Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union' in the process. The Treaty on European Union would, after being amended by the Treaty of Lisbon, provide a reference to the EU's Charter of Fundamental Rights, making that document legally binding. The Treaty on European Union, the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and the Charter of Fundamental rights would have equal legal value and combined constitute the European Union's legal basis.

Summary

A European Council President with a 2½ year term de facto replacing the rotating presidency. A single foreign affairs post created by merging the External Relations Commissioner with the CFSP High Representative. Charter of Fundamental Rights from 2009 made legally binding. Pillars merged to 1 legal person increasing the EU's competence to sign treaties. European Council separated officially from the Council of Ministers. Legislative meetings of the Council of Ministers to be held in public. More powerful Parliament by extending co-decision with the Council of Ministers to more areas of policy. A secession ([si΄se∫ən] вихід) clause

More double majority voting to new areas of policy in the European Council and the Council of Ministers, from 2014 on. National parliaments engaged by expanding scrutiny-time of legislation and enabling them to jointly compel the Commission to review or withdraw legislation. Mutual solidarity obliged if a member state is object of a terrorist attack or the victim of a natural or man-made disaster. Citizens’ petitions to be considered by the Commission if signed by 1 million citizens. Combating climate change explicitly stated as an objective. An EU Public Prosecutor An External Action Service

 

European Parliament

The legislative power of the European Parliament will increase, as the co-decision procedure with the Council of Ministers is extended to new areas of policy, increasing the power of the Parliament. This procedure will also be slightly modified and renamed ordinary legislative procedure.

In the few remaining areas, called "special legislative procedures", Parliament will either have the right of consent to a Council of Ministers measure, or vice-versa, except in the few cases where the old Consultation procedure applied, wherein the Council of Ministers will need to consult the European Parliament before voting on the Commission proposal and take its views into account. It will not be bound by the Parliament's position but only by the obligation to consult it. Parliament would need to be consulted again if the Council of Ministers deviated too far from the initial proposal.

The Commission will have to submit each proposed budget of the European Union directly to Parliament, which must approve the budget in its entirety.

The Treaty will change the way in which MEP seats are apportioned among member states. Rather than setting out a precise number (as it was the case in every previous treaty), the Treaty of Lisbon gives the power to the Council of Ministers, acting unanimously on the initiative of the Parliament and with its consent, to adopt a decision fixing the number of MEPs for each member state. Moreover the treaty provides for the number of MEPs to be digressively proportional to the number of citizens of each member state. A draft decision fixing the apportionment of MEPs was annexed to the treaty itself and had Lisbon been in force at the time of 2009 European Parliament elections the apportionment would have been.

The number of MEPs will be limited to 750, in addition to the President of the Parliament. Additionally, the Treaty of Lisbon will reduce the maximum number of MEPs from each member state from 99 to 96 (affects Germany) and increases the minimal number from 5 to 6 (affects Estonia, Cyprus, Luxembourg and Malta).

National Parliaments

The Treaty of Lisbon expands the role of Member States' parliaments in the legislative processes of EU institutions, giving them a greater role in responding to new applications for membership. National parliaments are able to veto measures furthering judicial cooperation in civil matters.

When the Treaty of Lisbon enters into force, national parliaments are to contribute to the good functioning of the Union through receiving draft EU legislation, seeing to it that the principle of subsidiarity is respected, taking part in the evaluation mechanisms for the implementation of the Union policies in the area of freedom, security and justice, being involved in the political monitoring of Europol and the evaluation of Eurojust's activities, being notified of applications for EU accession, taking part in the inter-parliamentary cooperation between national parliaments and with the European Parliament.

The Treaty of Lisbon allows national parliaments eight weeks to study legislative proposals made by the European Commission and decide whether to send a reasoned opinion stating why the national parliament considers it to be incompatible with the principle of subsidiarity. National parliaments may vote to have the measure reviewed. If one third (or one quarter, where the proposed EU measure concerns freedom, justice and security) of national parliaments are in favour of a review, the Commission would have to review the measure and if it decides to maintain it, must give a reasoned opinion to the Union legislator as to why it considers the measure to be compatible with subsidiarity.

 

Unit 4

Vocabulary Section