Welcome to MEUMeta, the META subreddit of the Model EU!

Unfortunately I have not had the time to make this statement until now, due to being busy with IRL.

First of all I would like to say a few words about my former colleague, /u/sabasNL. Working together with him to create this model has been a mostly positive experience, and he has done a great bit for the MEU. I have always known though that one day I would have to replace him, for the same reason that I became Deputy Head Moderator four months ago. Being responsible for a large international model means much responsibility and pressure, and Sabas simply couldn't handle it. I hope I will be able to handle it better.

For the future of the MEU, I will work closely with the national moderators to do a couple of things, most importantly to finish the new meta agreement. In this new version of the agreement, I will try to simplify many of the procedures of the EU that have been slowing the game down, especially the legislative procedure. I've previously wanted to have the system as similar to IRL as possible, but I've come to realise that the actual game play is more important.

The second most important thing to get the MEU active is to make sure everyone who plays the game knows how the game is actually played. I will therefore appoint a team of people with good knowledge of the EU to create a guidebook explaining how the simulation will work. If you have general knowledge of the EU and are interested in being a part of the team then let me know.

I will also seek to abolish the MEU moderator position, and instead introduce a system where all power of the MEU lies with the national moderators. The national moderators would then be able to appoint assistant moderators for the MEU, if they want to.

As for the referendum in MHOC, I will not interfere more than necessary. I will however, no matter what the result of the referendum is, continue to work with the moderators of MHOC on a meta level. If MHOC remains in the MEU, we will work together for an improved MEU. If it leaves, we will work together to ensure that any international agreements between the UK and the EU happens smoothly, and also potentially through EFTA. I hope for the first alternative.

Lastly I will try to get /r/ModelFolketinget and /r/MhOir to join the MEU. /r/ModelFolketinget may join once it reaches high enough activity level (which will hopefully happen once summer vacations are over). And /r/MhOir may join once the controversies regarding them have calmed down to extent where them joining wouldn't affect the overall meta stability of both of our models.

The first term of the MEU has given us experience, and with that experience we will be able to improve the model, and hopefully the second term will be more active and enjoyable.

After a unanimous vote in the ModelEU Group /u/SabasNL has been removed as head moderator of the MEU. /u/Asuros will be temporarily taking on the role of head moderator.

The in real life ordinary legislative procedure which is outlined in TFEU Article 294 and looks like this is rather complicated and doesn't lend itself well for a simulation of the EU. The ordinary legislative procedure revolves around the principle of codecision. However, because this involves the establishment of 'positions' by the European Parliament and the Council and a lot of negotiations between both institutions it is a way to complicated process for the Model EU in my opinion. Therefore I propose that we use a different version that works better for the simulation.

#The Proposal

The ordinary legislative procedure starts when the Commission submits a proposal which can be a Regulation, Directive or Decision.

###European Parliament First reading (establishment of the EP position)

1. The Commission proposal will submitted to the European Parliament.

2. MEPs will be able to comment on the proposal and submit amendments for a period of X days.

3. If MEPs have submitted amendments they will be voted upon, if approved the proposal will be changed accordingly.

4. The (amended) proposal will be voted upon:

(a) if the European Parliament approves the proposal will be forwarded to the Council and be referred to as the EP position.

(b) if the European Parliament rejects the proposal shall be deemed as not adopted.

During this process the Commission will have the ability to withdraw its proposal in accordance with TFEU Article 293 provided that they state the grounds of the withdrawal.

###Council first reading (establishment of the Council position)

1. The EP position will be submitted to the Council.

2. Members of the Council will be able to comment on the EP position for a period of X days.

3. The EP position will be voted upon:

(a) if the Council approves the EP position the proposal shall be deemed as adopted in the wording which corresponds with the EP position.

(b) if the Council rejects the EP position a second vote will be triggered in which every single amendment by the European Parliament will be voted upon. The proposal with the approved amendments will be forwarded to the European Parliament and be referred to as the Council position, this will trigger a 2nd reading in the European Parliament.

###European Parliament second reading

1. The Council position will be submitted to the European Parliament.

2. MEPs will be able to comment on the Council position for a periode of X days.

3. The Council position will be voted upon:

(a) if the European Parliament approves the Council position the proposal shall be deemed as adopted in the wording which corresponds with the Council position.

(b) if the European Parliament rejects the the Council position the proposal shall be deemed as not adopted.

#In which areas can the Union legislate?

The areas in which the Union is allowed to legislate (its competences) are defined in the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU). The treaty distinguishes exclusive competences, shared competences and supporting competences. The first category, the exclusive competences (see TFEU Article 3), are those where the Union is the only authority with the ability to legislate. This article names the following areas:

^(a) ^customs ^union;

^(b) ^the ^establishing ^of ^the ^competition ^rules ^necessary ^for ^the ^functioning ^of ^the ^internal ^market;

^(c) ^monetary ^policy ^for ^the ^Member ^States ^whose ^currency ^is ^the ^euro;

^(d) ^the ^conservation ^of ^marine ^biological ^resources ^under ^the ^common ^fisheries ^policy;

^(e) ^common ^commercial ^policy.

^2. ^The ^Union ^shall ^also ^have ^exclusive ^competence ^for ^the ^conclusion ^of ^an ^international ^agreement ^when ^its ^conclusion ^is ^provided ^for ^in ^a ^legislative ^act ^of ^the ^Union ^or ^is ^necessary ^to ^enable ^the ^Union ^to ^exercise ^its ^internal ^competence, ^or ^in ^so ^far ^as ^its ^conclusion ^may ^affect ^common ^rules ^or ^alter ^their ^scope.

The second category are shared competences (see TFEU Article 4) which are the areas in which the member states and the Union share the ability to legislate. The Union has shared competences in the areas conferred to them by Treaties excluding those that are named in TFEU Article 3 and 6. Article 4 names the following areas:

^(a) ^internal ^market;

^(b) ^social ^policy, ^for ^the ^aspects ^defined ^in ^this ^Treaty;

^(c) ^economic, ^social ^and ^territorial ^cohesion;

^(d) ^agriculture ^and ^fisheries, ^excluding ^the ^conservation ^of ^marine ^biological ^resources;

^(e) ^environment;

^(f) ^consumer ^protection;

^(g) ^transport;

^(h) ^trans-European ^networks;

^(i) ^energy;

^(j) ^area ^of ^freedom, ^security ^and ^justice;

^(k) ^common ^safety ^concerns ^in ^public ^health ^matters, ^for ^the ^aspects ^defined ^in ^this ^Treaty.

^3. ^In ^the ^areas ^of ^research, ^technological ^development ^and ^space, ^the ^Union ^shall ^have ^competence ^to ^carry ^out ^activities, ^in ^particular ^to ^define ^and ^implement ^programmes; ^however, ^the ^exercise ^of ^that ^competence ^shall ^not ^result ^in ^Member ^States ^being ^prevented ^from ^exercising ^theirs.

^4. ^In ^the ^areas ^of ^development ^cooperation ^and ^humanitarian ^aid, ^the ^Union ^shall ^have ^competence ^to ^carry ^out ^activities ^and ^conduct ^a ^common ^policy; ^however, ^the ^exercise ^of ^that ^competence ^shall ^not ^result ^in ^Member ^States ^being ^prevented ^from ^exercising ^theirs.

The last category is supporting competences (see TFEU Article 6) which are the competences where the Union can only intervene to support, coordinate or complement the action of EU countries. Legally binding EU acts must not require the harmonisation of EU countries’ laws or regulations. Supporting competences as outlined in the article relate to the following policy areas:

^(a) ^protection ^and ^improvement ^of ^human ^health;

^(b) ^industry;

^(c) ^culture;

^(d) ^tourism;

^(e) ^education, ^vocational ^training, ^youth ^and ^sport;

^(f) ^civil ^protection;

^(g) ^administrative ^cooperation.

On top of that the Union has so called special competences (see TFEU Article 5, 2-3) which means that it can take measures to ensure that member states coordinate their economic, social and employment policies at EU level.

In the absence of the necessary powers to attain one of the objectives set out in the Treaties, the institutions may apply the provisions of Article 352 TFEU, and thus adopt the ‘appropriate measures’.

In the exercise of its competence the Union is per Article 5 of the Treaty on the European Union (TEU) bound by the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality. Under the principle of subsidiarity, the content and scope of EU action may not go beyond what is necessary to achieve the objectives of the Treaties. Under the principle of proportionality in the area of its non-exclusive competences, the EU may act only if — and in so far as — the objective of a proposed action cannot be sufficiently achieved by the EU countries, but could be better achieved at EU level. The Union has to apply these principles as outlined in Protocol on the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality.

Can we write somewhere what the difference between a resolution or a motion is? And who can create one? I tried to do my research, but the others may not know, but they should