Bodies of the EU

The “bodies” of the EU are other organs whose decisions are not generally binding and who act mainly in an advisory capacity or in a specific area.

The Committee of Permanent Representatives (COREPER). This name is an acronym from the French way of referring to the committee. COREPER is a permanent body of representatives from all of the Member States. It was felt to be necessary because of the fluid Membership of Council as a means of informing Ministers from the Member States and streamlining the process of legislation. In this way individual representatives prepare items of discussion at Council meeting and examine the Commission’s legislative proposals for the individual Ministers. Generally, if a proposal can be agreed upon by COREPER before the Council meeting then it will be accepted without need for lengthy discussion.

The European Central Bank (ECB) has the exclusive right to authorize the issue of euros. It sets the short-term interests rates for those states who have the euro as their currency. It has certain enforcement powers so that it can bring national banks, who fail to comply with their obligations under EC law before the Court of Justice. The decision-making bodies of the ECB are the Executive Board and the Governing Council.

The European Investment Bank’s basis mission is to invest in projects that promote the objectives of the EU. It is not financed by the EU budged but by borrowing in the financial markets and also from the Member States. The bank only invests in projects according to strict criteria:

- the project must help achieve EU objectives, e.g. making small businesses more competitive;

- the project must help mainly disadvantaged regions;

- the project must help to attract other sources of funding.

The Economic and Social Committee & the Committee of the Regions. Both institutions were established to assist the Council and the Commission. They act only in an advisory capacity and have no real decision-making power. The Committee of Regions consists of representatives of regional and local bodies and the Economic and Social Committee consists of representatives from producers, farmers, carriers, workers, craftsmen, professional occupations and the general public. These representatives are appointed by the Council. Both bodies have 317 members. The committee shall not exceed 350 in number.

The European Ombudsman. The position of Ombudsman was created in the TEU. The European Ombudsman operates in the same way as all Ombudsmen and is an intermediary between European citizens and EU institutions. The Ombudsman is elected by the European Parliament for a period of five years. The Ombudsman acts independently and investigates examples of maladministration. In an EU context “maladministration” can concern:

- unfairness;

- discrimination;

- abuse of power;

- lack of information or refusal to give information;

- unnecessary delay in making decisions;

- using incorrect procedures.

The Court of Auditors consists of 27 members, one from each member states. The members are appointed by the Council, in consultation with the Parliament. Each member is assigned a specific sector of activity in relation to the accounts of the Union. The Court of Auditors conducts annual audits and submits observations and opinions on matters requested by other Community institutions. It may also carry out investigations in the member states concerning the application of Union law by that state, e.g. the collection of custom duties.

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