Sample listening summary

The key European institutions

The BBC report on the EU and its main institutions is presented by Mark Mardell in March 2009. Initially promoted by a former French foreign minister named Robert Schuman,  the  project leading to the creation of the European Union (EU) started after the Second World War, when six countries decided to create a coal and steel community. It then changed its name, and expanded to 27 Member States. The European Union has influence on the daily lives of its citizens, because it issues common laws in domains such as environment, transport or health policy. It also ensures the solidarity between the countries; rich countries help out poorer ones.

There are three main institutions at the EU. The first one Mardell presents is the European Commission, which is seated in the Berlaymont building. There, decisions are made by the 27 Commissioners, each one of whom is in charge of a policy area. Among the three institions, the Commission is the only one that has the right to propose new laws. Commissioners and civil servants at the Commission also see themselves as the protectors of the purpose of the EU.

The second main institution is the Council, where officials, diplomats and politicians representing national governments meet regularly. One of these meetings, the summit, which is attended by heads of state, is held at least three times a year. The Council is the institution where countries defend their national interests.

Last but not least, the third player, whose influence had been gradually growing over the years at the time this report came out, is the European Parliament. Its members are directly elected, and they are seated according to various political groups. Their role is to debate issues and to vote with the intention of approving, rejecting or amending  proposed laws. They even have the power to dismiss the Commission and reject the budget.

In conclusion, laws are proposed by the European Commission; their details are then discussed at the Council. There, the national governments have the ultimate power to accept or reject the proposals. The European Parliament also has its say, and it can fiddle with legislative details.  Thus this system of balance of powers among the three main institutions is a unique experiment with nothing like it in the world.