The leaders of each country, meeting in the European Council, presented the candidate according to the results of the elections to the European Parliament.

The number of MEPs per country is roughly proportional to its population, but following a digressive proportionality: any country can have less than 6 or more than 96 MEPs, and the total number may not exceed 751 (750 plus the President). The MEPs are grouped by political affinity and not by nationality.

Political leadership corresponds to a team of 28 commissioners, one from each member country, under the leadership of Commission President who decides who is responsible for each policy.

The European Council consists of the heads of state or government of all EU countries, the President of the European Commission the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

The EU Council is not composed of permanent members, but meets in ten different configurations depending on the subject to be treated

In the Council, ministers from each EU country meet to discuss, amend and adopt laws and coordinate national policies. Each minister has powers to make commitments on behalf of his Government regarding the actions agreed at the meetings.

The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland,Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Spain.

The European Commission is the politically independent executive body of the EU. The Commission is the only body responsible for drawing up proposals for new European legislation and implement the decisions of the European Parliament and the EU Council.

The European Council brings together EU leaders to set the political agenda. It represents the highest level of political cooperation between the EU level.

The European Parliament is the legislative body of the EU. It is directly elected by EU voters every five years. The last elections were held in May 2014.

Parliament's work consists of two main stages:

• in commissions - the legislation is prepared: Parliament has 20 committees and two subcommittees, each of which deals with a specific policy area. The committees examine proposed legislation and MEPs and political groups may submit proposed amendments or reject a bill.

• in plenary sessions - the legislation is approved: plenary session is the time when all MEPs meet in the chamber for the final vote on the proposed legislation and proposed amendments.

Strategic planning
President defines the general orientation of the Commission, allowing the commissioners jointly set strategic objectives and publish the annual work program.


Collective decision-making
Decisions taken under collective responsibility. In this process all commissioners are equal and respond equally to each decision. The commissioners themselves have no power of decision, unless authorization under certain circumstances.

• All debates and votes are public.
• To approve decisions, it is usually necessary to have a "qualified majority":
• 55% of States (that means 16 countries of the 28 current members)
• representing at least 65% of the total EU population.
• To block a decision, are necessary at least 4 countries (representing at least 35% of the total EU population).

• It normally meets four times a year, but the president may convene additional meetings to discuss urgent matters.
• In general, decisions are made by consensus, but in some cases unanimity or qualified majority is required. They can only vote the Heads of State or Government.

Legislative powers:
• Approve EU legislation together with the Council of the European Union, from the proposals of the European Commission
• Review the work program and ask the Commission to draw up proposals for legislation

Supervisory powers:
• Democratic control of all EU institutions
• Elect the President of the Commission and approve the Commission as a college. Ability to pass a motion of censure, which obliges the Commission to resign
• Examining petitions from citizens and conduct research

Budgetary powers:
• Set the EU budget together with the Council
• To approve the EU budget in the long term (“MFF")

Propose new laws: The Commission is the only European institution that has, for Parliament and the Council will approve:

• laws that protect the interests of the EU and its citizens in ways that cannot be regulated effectively at the national level
• right laws in their technical details through consultations with experts and citizens.

European policies to manage and allocate EU funds
• Sets priorities for EU spending together with the Council and Parliament.
• Prepares annual budgets for Parliament and the Council approve them.
• Monitors how the money is spent under the scrutiny of the Court of Auditors.

Ensure that EU legislation is fulfilled
• Together with the Court, the Commission ensures that EU legislation is properly applied in all member countries.

Represent the EU on the international stage
• Speaking on behalf of all EU countries in international organizations, especially trade policy issues and humanitarian aid.
• Negotiates international agreements on behalf of the EU.

• Negotiates and adopts the EU legislation, together with the European Parliament, based on proposals from the European Commission.
• Coordinates policies of the Member States.

• Decides on the direction and overall policy priorities of the EU but not legislate.
• It deals with complex or sensitive issues that cannot be resolved at lower levels of intergovernmental cooperation.
• Sets foreign and security policy taking into account the strategic interests of the EU and the implications on defense.