Defining Key Terms in Relation to Decision-Shaping and Decision-Taking in EU Decision-Making Processes

Abstract

By clarifying key concepts of EU decision-making, this chapter serves to set the background of how EU legislative decision-making processes function and who is involved in them. Particular focus will be given to the three main EU institutions which have a clear role in EU legislative processes—the European Commission, the Council of the EU, and the European Parliament (EP). Of these three institutions, particular attention is afforded to the Council which represents the interests of the member state governments in EU legislative decision-making processes. As clarified in this chapter, EU decision-making is made up of two main stages—decision-shaping and taking. It is these stages which together constitute the book’s framework through which small state governmental influence is studied. This chapter is divided into six main sections. Section 4.2 begins by discussing the EU as a regulatory arena and points out some distinctive features belonging to EU decision-making processes. Particular focus is given to the role of the Council in the EU legislative process. Section 4.3 then focuses on EU decision-making as a process made up of different stages. It first provides a framework—that of the policy cycle—to be able to study key aspects about small state governmental influence in the shaping and taking of EU decisions (see 4.3.1). It then explains why the policy cycle model is useful to conceptualize decision-shaping and decision-taking dynamics as integral parts of EU processes (see 4.3.2). Sections 4.4 and 4.5 illustrate key concepts belonging to the stages of decision-shaping and taking. Besides defining them, these sections also illustrate which EU policy players are found in each of them. Section 4.6 provides a conclusion.