ABSTRACT
The European Union of the late 1990s (and bearing in mind the latest alterations under the 1997 Amsterdam Treaty) has developed a highly complex system of governance (Duff 1997). In terms of the decision-taking and law-making processes, the European Parliament's (EP) influence varies from policy area to policy area as does the Council's control over policy development. The latter has been particularly effected by the emergence of the EP as a co-legislator in many areas and the gradual extension of qualified majority voting within the Council itself (Dinan 1999; Middlemass 1996). The European Commission's authority likewise varies depending on the policy area in question. In some, for example, such as foreign affairs, it is extremely limited (due to limited treaty provision) and in others, such as industrial policy, it finds itself competing directly with member state governments for authority and direction. In one policy area, however, namely competition policy, the Commission holds the reigns of considerable power.
