The European Union is an amalgamation of seven prominent institutions. Each of these institutions is assigned specific roles that ensure the effective functioning of the Union as a whole.
The seven institutions under the EU are the European Council, Council of the European Union, European Commission, European Parliament, European Court of Justice, European Court of Auditors, and European Ombudsman.
Let’s take a glance at how they function.
The European Council is formed by the various governing heads of the member countries. They unanimously decide on the numerous political commitments to be undertaken by the EU.
The Council of the European Union comprises one minister from each member state. This Council and the European Parliament together act as the law-making institutions in the European Union. Most of the proposed laws must be approved by these two bodies before they are legally enforced.
The European Commission acts as the executive body in the EU and works on putting into action the various decisions made.
When the laws are implemented in each member state, it needs to be rightly interpreted and applied. Well, this is strictly monitored and ensured by the European Court of Justice.
The European Court of Auditors helps in auditing and over-seeing the accounts and monetary budgets of the constituent institutions under the EU.
The fundamental rights of every citizen living in Europe are safeguarded by the European Ombudsman. This institution is also vital in ensuring open and accountable administrations within the European Union.
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