EU institutions : In the EU's unique institutional set-up:

the EU's broad priorities are set by the European Council, which brings together national and EU-level leaders directly elected MEPs represent European citizens in the European Parliament the interests of the EU as a whole are promoted by the European Commission, whose members are appointed by national governments governments defend their own country's national interests in the Council of the European Union.

Setting the agenda

The European Council sets the EU's overall political direction but has no powers to pass laws. Led by its President currently Herman Van Rompuy and comprising national heads of state or government and the President of the Commission, it meets for a few days at a time at least every 6 months.

Law-making
There are 3 main institutions involved in EU legislation:

the European Parliament, which represents the EUs citizens and is directly elected by them;

Directly elected by EU voters every 5 years, members of the European Parliament (MEPs) represent the people. Parliament is one of the EUs main law-making institutions, along with the Council of the European Union ('the Council'). The European Parliament has three main roles:

debating and passing European laws, with the Council scrutinising other EU institutions, particularly the Commission, to make sure they are working democratically debating and adopting the EU's budget, with the Council

the Council of the European Union, which represents the governments of the individual member countries. The Presidency of the Council is shared by the member states on a rotating basis. the European Commission, which represents the interests of the Union as a whole.

Together, these three institutions produce through the "Ordinary Legislative Procedure" (ex "codecision") the policies and laws that apply throughout the EU. In principle, the Commission proposes new laws, and the Parliament and Council adopt them. The Commission and the member countries

then implement them, and the Commission ensures that the laws are properly applied and implemented. Decision-making in the EU more on EU law-making procedures List of Presidencies of the Council of the EU 2011-2020

Other EU institutions
Two other institutions play vital roles:

the Court of Justice of the EU upholds the rule of European law the Court of Auditors checks the financing of the EU's activities.

The powers and responsibilities of all of these institutions are laid down in the Treaties, which are the foundation of everything the EU does. They also lay down the rules and procedures that the EU institutions must follow. The Treaties are agreed by the presidents and/or prime ministers of all the EU countries, and ratified by their parliaments. The EU has a number of other institutions and interinstitutional bodies that play specialised roles:

the European Central Bank is responsible for European monetary policy the European External Action Service (EEAS) assists the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, currently Catherine Ashton. She chairs the Foreign Affairs Council and conducts the common foreign and security policy, also ensuring the consistency and coordination of the EU's external action. the European Economic and Social Committee represents civil society, employers and employees the Committee of the Regions represents regional and local authorities the European Investment Bank finances EU investment projects and helps small businesses through the European Investment Fund the European Ombudsman investigates complaints about maladministration by EU institutions and bodies the European Data Protection Supervisor safeguards the privacy of peoples personal data the Publications Office publishes information about the EU the European Personnel Selection Office recruits staff for the EU institutions and other bodies the European School of Administration provides training in specific areas for members of EU staff a host of specialised agencies and decentralised bodies handle a range of technical, scientific and management tasks In order to enable the European Union fully to assume its responsabilities for crisis management, the European Council (Nice, December 2000) decided to establish permanent political and military structures. CSDP structures in Brussels :

The Political and Security Committee (PSC) meets at the ambassadorial level as a preparatory body for the Council of the EU. Its main functions are keeping track of the

international situation, and helping to define policies within the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) including the CSDP. It prepares a coherent EU response to a crisis and exercises its political control and strategic direction. The European Union Military Committee(EUMC) is the highest military body set up within the Council. It is composed of the Chiefs of Defence of the Member States, who are regularly represented by their permanent military representatives. The EUMC provides the PSC with advice and recommendations on all military matters within the EU. In parallel with the EUMC, the PSC is advised by a Committee for Civilian Aspects of Crisis Management (CIVCOM). This committee provides information, drafts recommendations, and gives its opinion to the PSC on civilian aspects of crisis management. The Crisis Management and Planning Directorate(CMPD) contributes to the objectives of the European External Action Service, the EU Common Security and Defence Policy and a more secure international environment by the political-strategic planning of CSDP civilian missions and military operations, ensuring coherence and effectiveness of those actions as part of the EU comprehensive approach to crisis management and developing CSDP partnerships, policies, concepts and capabilities. The CPCC Director, as EU Civilian Operations Commander, exercises command and control at strategic level for the planning and conduct of all civilian crisis management operations, under the political control and strategic direction of the Political and Security Committee (PSC) and the overall authority of the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton. The European Union Military Staff (EUMS) - working under the direction of the EU Military Committee (EUMC) and under the authority of the High Representative/Vice President (HR/VP) - is the source of collective (multi-disciplinary) military expertise within the European External Action Service (EEAS). As an integral component of the EEASs Comprehensive Approach, the EUMS coordinates the military instrument, with particular focus on operations/missions (both military and those requiring military support) and the creation of military capability. Enabling activity in support of this output includes: early warning (via the Single Intelligence Analysis Capacity - SIAC), situation assessment, strategic planning, Communications and Information Systems, concept development, training and education, and support of partnerships through military-military relationships. Concurrently, the EUMS is charged with sustaining the EU OPSCEN and providing its core staff when activated. The Civilian Planning and Conduct Capability(CPCC), which is part of the EEAS, is the permanent structure responsible for an autonomous operational conduct of civilian CSDP operations. Under the political control and strategic direction of the Political and Security Committee and the overall authority of the High Representative, the CPCC ensures the effective planning and conduct of civilian CSDP crisis management operations, as well as the proper implementation of all mission-related tasks.

CPCCs responsibilities

Strategic Planning of CSDP missions and operations

The objective of the political-strategic planning is to develop possible options for EU action and prepare a decision by EU Ministers on "what to do, why, where and with whom" with regard to a international security crisis situation. These options are put together in a Crisis Management Concept (CMC) which is proposed to EU Ministers for approval. It forms the basis for the further operational planning and the conduct of a mission or an operation. The Strategic planning is conducted in an integrated way, involving both civilian and military planners and in consultation with other services within the EEAS. Recent Crisis Management Concepts developed by the CMPD and approved by the Foreign Affairs Council include those for the mission for the Regional Maritime Capacity Building in the Horn of Africa and in Somalia, the Sahel mission and the mission for the security of the airport in Juba (South Sudan).

Strategic Reviews of existing CSDP missions and operations Strategic Reviews examine the mandate, objectives, size, extension, sustainability and continued effectiveness of existing missions and operations against the background of a changing strategic context or a new local or international political situation. Particular attention is given to the effectiveness of the mission and the coherence with other EU instruments, with bilateral actions by Member States and by other international actors and with EU political objectives. CMPD conducts Strategic Reviews in close consultation with other relevant EEAS services and local and international partners. Recently, it conducted Strategic Reviews of our missions in Kosovo, the Middle East, Iraq, Georgia and Afghanistan. CMPD also develops Lessons learned on missions and operations or on specific topics such as Human rights, Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration and Security Sector Reform (SSR) with a view to improve performance of CSDP actions. These lessons are fed back into the strategic planning process.

Develop CSDP partnerships The CMPD has a mandate to initiate and develop partnerships in the crisis management field with actors such as the UN, African Union, NATO, OSCE as well as with Third States such as China, Norway, Russia, Turkey and the US. It develops Framework Participation Agreements for participations in missions and operations. Recently concluded agreements include the one with the US and with New Zealand.

Develop supportive CSDP Policies, concepts, capabilities, trainings and exercises The CMPD has a mandate to initiate, develop and coordinate activities in further developing European civilian and military capabilities, and more in particular also the synergies between civilian and military means, as well as training aspects and the conduct of exercises and to develop CSDP policy and concepts such as on SSR, Human rights in missions and operations, the strengthening ties between CSDP and the area of Freedom, Security and Justice and horizontal aspects of EU crisis management, as it relates to the comprehensive approach, the role of the EU as a peace builder and possible synergies with crisis prevention and post-conflict reconstruction.