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E-Learning Unit 3: The EU Institutions and Modes of Governance

  1. Introduction
  2. The Treaty Establishing a Constitution for Europe
    1. Dissolving of the Pillar Structure
    2. Reforming the Union´s Competencies
      1. A Clear-Cut Catalogue of Competences?
      2. Categories of Competences
    3. Reforming the Procedures and Instruments
      1. Revision Procedures
      2. Legislative Procedures
      3. Budgetary Procedure
  3. A Revised Institutional Architecture
    1. The European Parliament
      1. Increase in Competence and Function
      2. With New Strength Towards a Bicameral System
      3. A Full-Fledged Parliament?
    2. The European Council
      1. An Expanded List of Tasks
      2. The President of the European Council
    3. The Council of Ministers
      1. Composition of the Council and its Presidency
      2. The New Majority Formula
      3. An Enhanced Ability?
    4. The Union Minister for Foreign Affairs
    5. The European Commission
      1. Reforms in the Light of European 'Leitideen'
      2. An Enhanced President of the Commission
      3. The College
  4. Perspectives
    1. Towards a New Institutional Balance?
    2. In a Fusion Trend?
    3. The TCE as a Further Step in the Evolution of European States?
  5. Further Readings

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I. Introduction

The e-learning unit 'The EU Institutions and Modes of Governance' analyses the institutions and the legislative procedures and their reforms in the light of the 'Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe'. Even though this new legal framework of the European Union has just been signed (29. October 2004) and will not enter into force before it will have been ratified by every single member state, the fundamental changes need to be explained and are worth discussion.

At first in chapter II the new legal foundation provided for by the Constitutional treaty is displayed. The central question whether the pillar structure has been overcome is the focal point of that analysis. Furthermore the reforms of the procedures and instruments are explained and interpreted.

 

The following chapter III is dedicated to the institutional architecture, which was entirely revised by the heads of state and government. Thus, the question of a strengthened European Parliament or the new positioning of the President of the Commission as well as the new post of the Union´s Minister for Foreign Affairs are discussed in great detail.

 

Chapter IV evaluates the Constitutional Treaty and its outcomes by giving an outlook on possible trends.