European Union nominate members to Head European Commission 03/07/2019 – Posted in: Daily News – Tags: ,

EUROPEAN UNION NOMINATE MEMBERS TO HEAD EUROPEAN COMMISSION

 

For: Preliminary & Mains

Topics covered: Nominated members, European Union, European Council, European Commission

 

News Flash

European Union leaders nominated German Defence Minister Ms.Ursula von der Leyen to become the new president of the European Commission (bloc’s powerful executive arm).

  • Frenchwoman Christine Lagarde was proposed as president of the European Central Bank.
  • Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Borrell was nominated to become EU foreign policy chief.

 

European Union

  • The European Union (EU) is a political and economic union of 28 member states that are located primarily in Europe.
  • These countries came together to make things better, easier and safer for people.
  • They agreed to work together and help each other.

 

How did the European Union start?

  • The idea to make the European Union came after two big wars happened in Europe.
  • Countries in Europe saw that it is better to work together than fighting against each other.
  • In the beginning, Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg, and Netherlands started working together.

 

Goals and values of the European Union

  1. There is peace in Europe.
  2. People have good lives.
  3. Things are fair for all people and nobody is left out
  4. The languages and cultures of all people are respected
  5. There is a strong European economy
  6. Countries use the same coin to do business together

 

The Schengen Area

  • The European Union made the ‘Schengen Area’.
  • The Schengen Area was made in 1985.
  • Today 22 out of the 28 countries of the European Union are part of the Schengen Area.
  • The Schengen Area is an area without borders.
  • In this area, people can travel from country to country freely and easily.
  • They do not have to go through checks and controls

 

European Union

European Union

 

European Commission

The European Commission is the EU’s executive arm. It takes decisions on the Union’s political and strategic direction.

  • The European Commission is divided into departments that develop policies for specific areas.
  • Each department is headed by Commissioners.
  • Overall, the Commission works under the leadership of a President.
  • The Commission is steered by a group of 28 Commissioners, known as ‘the college’.
  • Together they take decisions on the Commission’s political and strategic direction.
  • A new college of Commissioners is appointed every 5 years.

 

European Council

  • The European Council defines the EU’s overall political direction and priorities.
  • The members of the European Council are the heads of state or government of the 28 EU member states.
  • The council was established in 1974 (informal forum), 1992 (formal status), 2009 (official EU institution)
  • It is located in Brussels (Belgium)
  • The Council deals with complex or sensitive issues that cannot be resolved at lower levels.
  • It usually meets 4 times a year.
  • It generally decides issues by consensus – but by unanimity or qualified majority in some cases.
  • Only the heads of state/government can vote.

 

Source: The Hindu

 

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