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	EU E-Learning Units
HOME CONTACT E-Learning Unit 3: The EU Institutions and Modes of Governance Introduction The Treaty Establishing a Constitution for Europe Dissolving of the Pillar Structure Reforming the Union´s Competencies A Clear-Cut Catalogue of Competences? Categories of Competences Reforming the Procedures and Instruments Revision Procedures Legislative Procedures Budgetary Procedure A Revised Institutional Architecture The European Parliament Increase in Competence and Function With New Strength Towards a Bicameral System A Full-Fledged Parliament? The European Council An Expanded List of Tasks The President of the European Council The Council of Ministers Composition of the Council and its Presidency The New Majority Formula An Enhanced Ability? The Union Minister for Foreign Affairs The European Commission Reforms in the Light of European 'Leitideen' An Enhanced President of the Commission The College Perspectives Towards a New Institutional Balance? In a Fusion Trend? The TCE as a Further Step in the Evolution of European States? Further Readings .	Source: de.news.yahoo.com/ III.4 The Union Minister for Foreign Affairs The creation of an office for a 'Union Minister for Foreign Affairs' stands as the most central innovation of the proposed institutional architecture. It is another attempt, in line with past efforts, aimed at promoting the efficient cooperation between the Member States, as well as ensuring the "consistency between the different areas of its external action (Title V Part III TCE) and between these and its other policies" (Art. III-292 (3) TCE). For this task, it has been envisaged to merge into a "double hat" the High Representative and the Vice president of the Commission who is responsible for external relations [three functions of the Foreign Minister Art. I-28]. This constitutional set-up places him in an environment of strong inter- and intra-institutional tension. In that, he shall be supported by the "European External Action Service" (Art. III-296 (3) TCE). Already the Convention has invested great expectations in his office while the instruments at his disposal are rather limited. It is hoped that he will advance the objectives of the Union through far reaching proposals and activities on the one hand, yet as president of the Foreign Affairs Council, his main objective must remain - not least because of the dominant use of unanimity - the forging of consensus among the Member States. In fulfilling his duties, he will have to reconcile different political interests not only of Member States, but also of Commission ressorts and relevant interest networks. The election and the description of tasks of the Foreign minister are almost an ideal typical instance of the fusion trend: legitimacy and functions are merged. Links: Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe	Source: www.pitztaler-info.at/
GLOSSARY: 'Double Hat' The principle of the ,double hat' provides for the two posts of the High Representative for CFSP (at the moment Javier Solana) and the Commissioner for foreign affairs being united in one person, while the decision-making procedures of these posts remain separated. This proposal of compromise, which does not envision a fusion of the two posts, aims at an increase in coherence of the EU´s external actions by establishing a single external representation of the Union .

EU E-Learning Units

CONTACT

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

Introduction
The Treaty Establishing a Constitution for Europe
A Revised Institutional Architecture
1. The European Parliament
2. The European Council
  1. An Expanded List of Tasks
  2. The President of the European Council
3. The Council of Ministers
4. The Union Minister for Foreign Affairs
5. The European Commission

Source: de.news.yahoo.com/

III.4 The Union Minister for Foreign Affairs

The creation of an office for a 'Union Minister for Foreign Affairs' stands as the most central innovation of the proposed institutional architecture. It is another attempt, in line with past efforts, aimed at promoting the efficient cooperation between the Member States, as well as ensuring the "consistency between the different areas of its external action (Title V Part III TCE) and between these and its other policies" (Art. III-292 (3) TCE). For this task, it has been envisaged to merge into a "double hat" the High Representative and the Vice president of the Commission who is responsible for external relations [three functions of the Foreign Minister Art. I-28]. This constitutional set-up places him in an environment of strong inter- and intra-institutional tension. In that, he shall be supported by the "European External Action Service" (Art. III-296 (3) TCE). Already the Convention has invested great expectations in his office while the instruments at his disposal are rather limited. It is hoped that he will advance the objectives of the Union through far reaching proposals and activities on the one hand, yet as president of the Foreign Affairs Council, his main objective must remain - not least because of the dominant use of unanimity - the forging of consensus among the Member States. In fulfilling his duties, he will have to reconcile different political interests not only of Member States, but also of Commission ressorts and relevant interest networks. The election and the description of tasks of the Foreign minister are almost an ideal typical instance of the fusion trend: legitimacy and functions are merged.

Links:

Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe

Source: www.pitztaler-info.at/

GLOSSARY:

'Double Hat'

The principle of the ,double hat' provides for the two posts of the High Representative for CFSP (at the moment Javier Solana) and the Commissioner for foreign affairs being united in one person, while the decision-making procedures of these posts remain separated. This proposal of compromise, which does not envision a fusion of the two posts, aims at an increase in coherence of the EU´s external actions by establishing a single external representation of the Union .