Where Does the EU Get its Power From? (& How it Passes Laws) - TLDR News

In this video, we discuss the EU's power. The EU is somewhere between being a state and an international organisation, but somehow unlike other similar bodies, it has the power to pass laws and hold sovereign states to account. So we will explain where the EU gets its powers from and how the EU is able to pass laws.

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[lostintashkent]

The EU offers a readable, compact introduction called "the EU in 12 lessons" on its website. Explains history, context, workings etc, for young adults. It's free .

[kisaragi-hiu]

I love how surprisingly readable the Lisbon Treaty "By this treaty ... member states confer competences to attain objectives they have in common" becomes once you've naturally introduced what a "competence" is.

[AaronOkeanos]

Somone recently made an intresting analogy which I extend now a little. One of the successes of the EU is it is a system of rules and regulations. There is no specific leader, no specific government, no specific country, no specific culture, no specific nationality. It's a machine running according to some very clearly formulared rules like laws of nature. Trying to subvert it or overtake it is extremly difficult, that's because of the "no-specifics" I recollected above make it extremly problematic to get a foothold. And that's also why there are so many lobbyists there because you'd need an army of them to achieve even the slightest influence. While in the UK you only need one for example (Dominic Cummings).

In that regard the analogy I would place here comes from Game of Thrones in that the EU is like the Bank of Barvos. There is no specific someone to gain influence. Even if one breaks away it's just replace by another of the same kind. What it lead to? ... Stability and continuity mostly but that's what true bussiness likes even more than one or two regulations which impacts their gains somewhat.

[laplumedemaat]

Explication brillante des institutions de l’UE. Merci pour ce travail.

[simonkraemer]

I would like to see that the EU has more competence about foreign policy. Since WW2 Europe was kind of the pingpong ball in the middle of Russia and the US. I would like to see the EU as an important global player thats more demanding on e.g. human rights issues and that protects European interests. But if we want that, there has to be more of a patriotic feeling about the EU and you just get that if a) the EU is more democratic and b) the EU is more represented so that citizen can identify with EU-politicians.

[chrisX]

We need a European public broadcasting. I know there's Euronews, but it's just a cooperation between national news agencies. We need something real.

[AbiGail-okfc]

It's certainly complex, but within reason. As presented, it may seem overly complex, but you have to keep in mind that the EU isn't a state, and the "dictatorship of the majority" isn't going to happen anytime soon. Almost everything the EU does is about forming consensus, and the last thing the EU wants to do is doing anything which is objected to by a significant part of the EU. Getting something done where only a small minority objects to is more important than getting something done where a small majority agrees upon.

[ButchEMS]

I love you guys at TLDR, but this video came out bloody 4 years too late :-(

[davidmurphy]

The Commission proposes, Parliament scrutinises and the Council (national govs) decide. It's a basically treaty making machine.

[edipires]

Thank you for pointing out the complexities of the EU. Indeed many people want it to be more democratic and not to take sovereignty away from the member states, but it turns out that making it more democratic requires taking more power away from the member states, hence reducing their sovereignty. The EU has managed so far in balancing the to but it is now at a crossroads

[timotzu]

Thanks for the video. I think it summed it up really well!
Just a couple of notes: Once the commission actually proposed a law to the European Parliament and the council, it is very difficult for the commission to withdraw or change that proposal. The ping pong you were referring to happens between the council and the parliament. (See Article 294 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union)
The principle of subsidiarity and the ability of national parliaments to object only applies to shared competences. If the EU has exclusive competence, the EU is always the lowest level of regulation because member states gave up their power to legislate in that area.

[JBinero]

For those interested in an introductory book on the topic, the book _The ABC of EU Law_ is available *for free, * shipping included, on the website of the Publications Office of the European Union, for all EU residents.

I won't include a link to avoid this being flagged as spam.

[gammarade]

To whoever is reading this comment, there's an upcoming conference on the future of europe where citizens are supposed to be consulted on what they want from the EU. Contact your local MEPs, make your voice as there may some member states who'll try make the conference a top-bottom process.


At the very least we should all agree on making the EU more democratic, having MEPs be able to write legislation, having the commission being controlled by parliament or a directly elected president. Replace the council of ministers with a directly elected senate. Have parliamentary districts so people have a connection with a local MEP, use ranked choice voting though instead of FPTP.


Also I hope we have a fiscal union for the eurozone, it can't survive without it. Also have the EU control the military equipment used and the training so we don't waste as much money. This should only be done once the EU has further democratized and power is transferred from the member states to the people. Some politicians will stop this in the name of sovereignty but true sovereignty for the people is only gained by directly electing the european institutions.


EDIT: It's fine if you don't agree with me and want small changes, I think you should still be involved with the CoFoE so your voice is heard.

[ericlemes]

Great stuff. Would be interesting a similar videos about how European central bank works and how it interferes with the member states budgets. I know, it is very complicated

[Trashplat]

This goes to show once again, that Nation states have plenty of options to influence, change and complain about the EU's business. I hate when strongman national politicians claim that the EU is passing something that's bad for their country, even though THEY THEMSELVES helped pass it. They nod and give their green light at all steps of the way, help to amend it, but then when it's just about to pass or has passed, they come in and tell their people, how evil the EU is and how it's disrespectfully doing nothing in the interest of their country. Like, dude?? You signed it!! Just hand in your complaints earlier or stop the law! You have every right to do so. This is just propaganda. 🙄

[sethheaton]

Wow, it seems quite brilliant actually. Very educational, thank you all!

[scotandiamapping]

I think the EU needs simplified. It's too complex for a regular EU citizen to understand and thus it's harder to hold to account.

[kensavage]

One of the best summaries of the EU that I've ever seen - and a video that needed to exist 4+ years

[M.M.-U]

The simpler presentation I ever ear .
Thanks

[psammiad]

Brexit has proved that the member states always retained sovereignty despite being part of the EU, since members can make the sovereign decision to leave at any time. Unlike say, US states.