Geopolitics Magazine March - April 2015 ( 8th Edition )

Geopolitics & Daily News Magazine At the core of EU ecosystem we may identify the following institutions: The European Commission (policymaker, governor, guardian of EU laws, international represent of the Union, etc.), the European Court of Justice, which along with the European Court of Human Rights (non EU institution) and the nation’s courts exercise the judiciary power within the EU and the EU Council and Parliament that share the final say on new EU laws proposed by the Commission. The Council (the assembly of EU Leaders), along with the representatives, manages major EU management issues and provides the guidelines to European Commission on policy making. Moreover, along with the European Parliament, it issues secondary law (directives) and Regulations, it decides (with delegation with the parliament if it is needed) on EU president proposals over EU Budgets (7 year planning) and has the power to initiate the change of EU fundamental Law. The Permanent Representatives Committee or Coreper (Article 240 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union – TFEU) is responsible for preparing the work of the Council of the European Union (Agenda). The body consists of representatives from the Member States with the rank of Member States’ ambassadors to the European Union and is chaired by the Member State which holds the Council Presidency. Coreper occupies a pivotal position in the Community decision-making system, in which it is both a forum for dialogue (among the Permanent Representatives and between them and their respective national capitals) and a means of political control (guidance and supervision of the work of the expert groups). It thus carries out preliminary scrutiny of the dossiers on the Council agenda (proposals and drafts for acts tabled by the Commission). It seeks to reach agreement at its own level on each dossier, failing which it may suggest guidelines, options or suggested solutions to the Council. The agendas for Council meetings reflect the progress made in Coreper. They consist of: (a) items to be approved without discussion following agreement within Coreper and (b) items for discussion. Coreper works in two configurations:  Coreper I, consisting of the deputy permanent representatives, deals with technical matters.  Coreper II, consisting of the ambassadors, deals with political, commercial, economic or institutional matters. Coreper deals with all areas of the Council's work apart from agricultural issues, for which Agriculture Council dossiers are prepared by the Special Committee on Agriculture (SCA). When the Council sets up a special committee, such as the Political and Security Committee (PSC) for the CFSP or the Employment Committee for the field of employment, these operate with due regard for Coreper's prerogatives. European Commission European Court of Justice Cooper Council Geopolitics.com.gr all rights reserved 2015 European Parliament Page 74

Geopolitics Magazine March - April 2015 ( 8th Edition ) | Page 76