Functions of the EU – Regulatory institutions

By: Malak DISSI S5ENA

Regulatory institutions (or agencies) are integral bodies in the European Union (EU).  There are over 40 institutions in the EU, each serving a different purpose. These institutions are additives to the main institutions:  the European Commission and the European Parliament. The institutions are allowed to assist and advise the main EU institutions and states, including acting as direct supervisors on the decisions being made within the European Union. Each agency is its own legal body with their own rights within the EU. Additionally, each institution has to follow certain number of functions: shaping EU policies, implementing EU policies, monitoring compliance, administering EU co-operation programmes.

The core of these agencies is the Council of the European Union (CoE). The Council of the EU is the main body in the decision-making process of the EU. The Council is known as the “Voice of EU governments”. It consists of the government ministers from each country in the EU. The Council adopts laws and negotiates policies with the European Parliament.

The European Medicines Agency (also known as the EMA) is the lead institution regarding  medicine in the EU. The EMA is in charge of the evaluation, supervision and monitoring of human and veterinary medicines within the European Union. Their main responsibility is evaluating the safety and development of medicines. They also make sure that medicines are easily accessible and that the information regarding them is shared with the public. Many people benefit from the EMA, such as patients, academics, pharmaceuticals, medicine developers, etc…

In regard of the environment, an agency called Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI JU) is aiming to make the EU have a more bio-based economy, as well as trying to turn biological waste greener and more sustainable. This organization was established in 2014 as recognition of the increase in pollution and global warming. The main goal of this institution is to  make the transition to renewable sources and a sustainable bio-based economy as smooth as possible for the EU.A benefit of this agency is that they enable people in rural areas to have job opportunities without the need of moving to large cities. The BBI Join Undertaking currently has 400,000 employees and  an increase to  700,000 skilled jobs by 2030 is expected.

Overall, each one of these institutions possess a different value and accomplishment that they want to achieve, this is what makes them so important. They each play an important role within the EU as they implement different types of advice and give many job opportunities to different people. These organizations help move the EU forward into a more modern and organized union.

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