Why bother with Brussels? Other institutions

The European Commission, European Parliament and the Council of the European Union are the 'big three' institutions but there are number of other institutions and bodies that make up the European Union (EU).

European Court of Justice

European Court of Auditors 

European data protection supervisor (EDPS) 

European Ombudsman 

The European Central Bank 

Committee of the Regions 

European Court of Justice

The European Court of Justice or 'the Court' is based in Luxemburg and upholds the rule of law across the EU ensuring that EU legislation is applied in the same way. It is the highest court for European Union law, higher than any court in the UK. This means that individuals can take cases to the Court once all legal routes in a member state have been exhausted.

The Court is made up of one judge per member state, currently 27. But the Court usually sits as a Grand Chamber with 13. The Court is also assisted by eight advocates-general who present options, publically and impartially, on cases brought before the court. Due to the large number of cases brought before the 'Court a Court of First Instance' was created in 1988 to deal with the overload.

More information is available on the Court's website. 

European Court of Auditors 

The European Court of Auditors is based in Luxembourg and was established to ensure that EU funds are managed properly. The Court is made up of one member from each EU country appointed for six year terms.  

More information is available on the Court of Auditors website. 

European data protection supervisor (EDPS) 

The EDPS is an independent supervisory authority devoted to protecting personal data and privacy and promoting good practice in the EU institutions and bodies.  Its ensures that EU institutions and bodies respect the right to privacy when they collect, store and destroy personal information. For example EDPS checks that there is no abuse of personal privacy rights when asylum seekers have their fingerprints taken. 

How they could help - If you believe that your right to privacy has been infringed by an EU institution or body and are not happy with the outcome from addressing this issue with the original institution or body the EDPS can then investigate the complaint for you once.

More information is available on the EDPS website. 

European Ombudsman

The European Ombudsman acts as an intermediary between EU citizens and EU institutions and bodies investigating complaints brought forward by anybody in the EU against it's institutions.

More information is available on the Ombudsman's website. 

The European Central Bank

The main role of the European Central Bank is to manage the euro and maintain price stability.

More information available on the European Central Bank's website 

Committee of the Regions

The Committee of the Regions (CoR) acts as the voice of regional and local government in the European Union.  It is an advisory body made up of representatives of the Europe's regional and local authorities and must to be consulted before decisions are taken on policy areas which concern local and regional government, such as regional policy, environment, culture, education, transport, public health, vocational training and youth. Members of the CoR are nominated to join the Committee by their respective national governments and are usually elected members in local or regional authorities.

The CoR represents local and regional views on EU legislation. The Commission makes proposals and the CoR issues reports, or opinions'. The Commission, the Council and the European Parliament can also consult with the CoR on other issues, and the CoR can present its views to the Commission, Council and Parliament on its own initiative. The CoR holds five plenary sessions each year when its policy and opinions are defined and adopted. Six commissions' consider different policy areas and prepare the opinions to be debated during these plenary sessions.

More information available on the CoR website 

With thanks to Europa publications.

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