Finding Information about EU Decision-Making Process

The following subject headings are good starting points to search for books on EU legislation in the online catalog:

Books about:

• European Union Countries
• European Union Politics


• Legislation -- European Economic Community countries
• Legislation -- European Union countries
• Legislative bodies -- European Economic Community countries
• Legislative bodies -- European Union countries

Books by:

• European Union Agencies

EU Institutions

Council of the European Union: This is the main decision-making institution of the EU. It is made up of ministers from each member state. The Council passes laws jointly with the European Parliament. The council also negotiates international agreements and makes decisions on foreign and economic policy measures.

• Council Documents
• Council Register
• Security and Defense Policy

European Commission. This institution proposes legislation to Parliament and the Council, administers and implements Community policies, enforces Community law (jointly with the Court of Justice) and negotiates international agreements.

• EC Document Register
• President of the European Commission
• Members 2010-2014
• Departments and Services. The Commission is divided into departments known as Directorates-General similar to government ministries. Each Directorate-General is supervised by a civil servant who reports directly to the Commissioner. In addition, there are other services and offices within the commission that perform various administrative functions.

European Parliament. The EU's parliamentary body is made up of of directly elected citizens of EU member states. Together with the Council, it constitutes the legislative branch of the institutions of the Union.

Organization

• Members of the European Parliament (MEPs)
• President of the EU Parliament
• Parliamentary Committees
• Delegations
• Political Groups
• Committee of Independent Experts

Documents

• Register of EP Documents (Search)
• Debates of the European Parliament
• Common Positions
• Policy Department Publications
• Public Hearings

Other Resources

• Legislative Observatory (OEIL). Database with references for procedures and documents of institutions involved in the inter-institutional legislative procedure relating to the work of the European Parliament.
• Parliamentary Questions. Database of questions posed by the European Parliament to the Council and the Commission, searchable by author, political group, etc.