{"id":1742,"date":"2013-03-13T13:47:10","date_gmt":"2013-03-13T13:47:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hum.port.ac.uk\/europeanstudieshub\/?page_id=1742"},"modified":"2017-04-19T09:25:20","modified_gmt":"2017-04-19T09:25:20","slug":"power-of-initiation","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/hum.port.ac.uk\/europeanstudieshub\/learning\/module-1-understanding-eu-institutions\/the-european-commission\/power-of-initiation\/","title":{"rendered":"Power of initiation"},"content":{"rendered":"

It is important that you understand how the European Commission proposes laws. According to the Treaty:<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Article 17<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. 1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/i>Union legislative acts may only be adopted on the basis of a Commission proposal, except where the Treaties provide otherwise. Other acts shall be adopted on the basis of a Commission proposal where the Treaties so provide.<\/i><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    \u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n

    (Consolidated versions of the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union<\/i>, 2010)<\/p>\n

    \u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n

    I hope you still remember the ordinary legislative procedure that we discussed previously. In the procedure, the Commission proposes new legislation to the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament.<\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    What laws does the Commission propose and why?<\/h2>\n

    First of all, the Commission takes the legislative initiative to meet the objectives of the EU treaties. If the policy area is not cited in the Treaties, the Commission cannot propose any laws in that area. Secondly, the Commission proposes laws to meet technical and legal obligations arising from existing laws. Thirdly, the Commission proposes laws as a response to ideas and suggestions from other sources.<\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    \n

    What are the other sources of law and how important is their initiative? Please read\u00a0\u2018 The European Union. How does it work?<\/a>\u2019 by E. Bomberg, J. Peterson and R. Corbett 2011, p.54 , Box 3.1.<\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

     <\/p>\n

    \n

    The Lisbon Treaty has introduced the European Citizens\u2019 Initiative<\/a>. Read about it to find out what the initiative is and how it works.<\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

     <\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Nevertheless, when proposing laws, the Commission must respect:<\/p>\n