EU concepts and institutions

- Proposed by the EU Commison

- Proposes protectionism for European famers

- Guaranteed subsidy payments and minimum prices

- Import tariffs

- one of the foundational elements of the EC/EU

- common tariffs and import and export regimes

- anti-dumping and anti-subsidy measures

- plays role in the WTO

- recent transfer from tariff to non-tariff bariers (quotas and technical barriers to trade see notes on government barriers)

- now includes services, intelectual property and investment

- major players are the Commission (initiator, represents member states) and the Council (provides the mandate for actions, gives approval).

-Parliament is consultative

- Trade Commissioner and Directorate General for Trade

-has legal basis in the Treaties establishing the Community

- falls within shared competence (EU and member states)

- Name comes from Article 133 of the Treaty of Amsterdam which provides for the establishment of a committee that is appointed by the Council to assist the Commission.

- serves as a link between the Council and the Commission

- all member states have a representative

- The Permanent Representatives Committee or "Coreper" is responsible for preparing the work for the Council.

-is consisted of ambassadors from the member countries (Permanent Representatives)

- chaired by the Presidency of the Council

- has a preliminary role