Germany is a parliamentary democracy. The government policy is determined by the head of government and the ministers, and not by the head of state. Given the high standards with regard to the constitutional state and democracy as a result of the Basic Law, the Federal Constitutional Court is a player in the European political arena. The court has illustrated on several occasions that European law must satisfy the criteria of the Basic Law if Germany is to relinquish to the EU the rights to draw up its own laws. In this respect to a certain extent the “eternal guarantee” of applicable principles with regard to the Basic Law vie with the Basic Law’s commitment to European integration. In June 2009 in a landmark decision the Federal Constitutional Court stated that the Bundestag must also be substantially involved in European decision making even if it is not called on as a ratification organ for the European treaties.