On June 9th, citizens in Germany will have the opportunity to cast their vote in the European elections. But what exactly is chosen and how does the European Union actually work? Here you will find an overview of the seven EU institutions.

A total of 27 European states have joined together in the EU. The main aim of the European Union is to ensure the security and prosperity of its member states. The EU is now also taking on non-economic tasks. The beginnings of today’s EU lie in the middle of the 20th century. This is where the idea of ​​a common security and economic area came about. Six states, including the then still divided Federal Republic, founded the European Economic Community (EEC) in 1957. The European Union was founded with the Maastricht Treaty in 1992. Since then, many different additional treaties have been added that regulate the supranational responsibilities of the EU. The European Union is now organized into a total of seven institutions.

There are a total of four central bodies that set the political direction and can pass laws:

These are supplemented by three additional organs:

The European Parliament will be elected in the EU from June 6th to 9th. On June 9th it will be Germany’s turn. The most important parties in Germany have already nominated their top candidates. All eligible voters aged 16 and over can vote in their polling station or by postal vote. Each member state has a limited number of seats available; this number is measured by the population. Germany has the most representatives with 96 seats. The European Parliament represents the citizens of the EU. Its task is to pass laws and control the other EU institutions. It also decides on the budget together with the Council of the EU.

Read more about how the European elections work here.

The European Council consists of the heads of state and government of the 27 member states and the President of the European Commission. The European Council sets the guidelines and goals of European policy, but is not involved in the day-to-day business of the EU. The European Parliament and the Council of the European Union are the legislative bodies of the EU (legislature). While the parties sitting in the European Parliament are the direct representation of the people, the Council of the European Union consists of the ministers of the national governments. Despite the similarity in name, it should not be confused with the European Council. The Council of the European Union is therefore also called the Council of Ministers. The Council of Ministers decides on laws and the budget together with the European Parliament. In addition, he coordinates the political measures of the EU countries. It also develops foreign and security policy based on the guidelines of the European Council and can conclude contracts with other countries or organizations.

The European Commission is the executive branch of the EU and can therefore be seen as a “government”. It consists of 27 commissioners, one for each member state. The commissioners are nominated by the European Council, i.e. the heads of government. They are then elected by the European Parliament. The commissioners then take over a policy area and are politically guided by the President of the Commission. Ursula von der Leyen is currently Commission President.

Although the Commission is the executive branch, it also assumes legislative functions. It is almost the only EU body allowed to propose laws, which are then discussed in the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union. The Commission is guardian of the many treaties that make up the EU and thus monitors compliance with European law. If necessary, it can take legal action before the EU courts. Furthermore, it ensures the implementation of decided laws, the budget and the goals. It can also negotiate international agreements and represents the EU at the World Trade Organization.

The European Court of Justice (ECJ), the European Central Bank (ECB) and the European Court of Auditors (ECA) are not part of the four central political bodies. The ECJ is responsible for the jurisprudence and interpretation of law in the EU. States can sue other states if they believe European law has been violated. The EU can also take legal action against a member state in the form of the European Commission, but private individuals can also bring charges before the ECJ if they believe their rights have been violated.

The ECB manages the euro, the EU’s currency. Together with the national central banks, it also forms the European System of Central Banks (ESCB). The ECB approves new euro notes and sets monetary policy in the euro area. It also functions as a bank in the truest sense: approved banks can borrow money from it. For this purpose, the ECB sets the so-called key interest rate: it influences all other interest rates of banks in the euro area. The ECB is also responsible for ensuring that payments work smoothly everywhere.

The ECA is something like the EU’s accountant. The EZU’s finances are checked here. The ECA represents taxpayers and in this role delivers regular reports on how EU financial resources can be used effectively. It also reports on the EU’s financial situation and controls income and expenditure. The ECA is independent and is free to decide what, how and when it examines it.

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