The European Parliament is the only EU body directly elected by the people, with citizens of member states choosing their representatives every five years. While it began with 736 representatives from member states, this number was increased to 751 in 2014. Representation is determined based on the population of each state. Members of Parliament (MEPs) do not represent their specific countries, but rather their political affiliations. The Parliament works alongside the Council in the legislative process and plays a key role in drafting the EU budget. Additionally, it holds supervisory authority over the Commission.
The Council is an organ composed of ministers from the governments of the member states. it represents the national interests of the member states and uses methods such as unanimity, majority vote, or qualified majority when making decisions. Together with the European Parliament, the Council adopts legal regulations and approves the budget. It also works with auxiliary bodies, most notably the Committee of Permanent Representatives (COREPER), which consists of the member states' ambassadors. Unanimity is specifically required for matters involving the Common Foreign and Security Policy and the accession of new members.
The European Commission is the executive branch of the EU, responsible for implementing the Union's budget and policies. It consists of one Commissioner from each member state, each tasked with bringing EU policies to life. The Commission is an independent body that operates without regard to the interests of any specific state. The President and members of the Commission are appointed after being confirmed by the European Parliament. The Commission monitors the application of EU law and is one of the bodies authorized to initiate the legislative process. Commissioners serve a renewable five-year term.
The Court of Justice of the European Union is the judicial organ of the EU, featuring a three-tier structure consisting of the Court of Justice, the General Court, and specialized courts. Its primary mission is to ensure that EU law is interpreted and applied consistently across all member states. In this context, the Court ensures that the law is respected during the interpretation and application of Union law. It also handles duties such as regulating the relationship between national and EU legal systems, judicial review, interpretation, dispute resolution, creating law, and filling legal gaps.
The Court consists of one judge from each member state, while the General Court is composed of 27 judges—at least one from each member state. Eight Advocates-General assist the Court of Justice and the General Court by preparing legal opinions on cases to support the judges. Judges are appointed for a six-year term by the mutual agreement of member state governments and are eligible for reappointment.
The independence of the judges is guaranteed by various legal regulations. Deliberations are conducted in secret; even if decisions are reached by a majority vote, they are signed by all judges, and dissenting opinions are not disclosed. The Court has the authority to hear various cases arising from European Union law.
Generally, the Court of Justice monitors whether member states and EU institutions are acting in accordance with EU law. It also provides guidance to national courts when they require an interpretation of EU law for ongoing cases. Headquartered in Luxembourg, the Court continues its activities to protect the rule of law within the European Union.
