EU Institutions
The European Commission
Function:
The European Commission (EC) is the executive branch of the European Union,
responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the EU treaties
and managing the day-to-day business of the EU.
What does the European Commission do? Its job is to develop laws for member states and
enforce them. Once its proposals have the approval of the European Parliament and a
Council of 27 ministers from the EU states, they can become law. The laws it proposes cover
many areas.
Who is the member of the EC?
The Commissioners. The Commission is composed of the College of Commissioners from
27 EU countries. Together, the 27 Members of the College are the Commission's political
leadership during a 5-year term. They are assigned responsibility for specific policy areas by
the President. The president is nominated by the national leaders of the European council and
then elected by the European Parliament by majority vote. The European Parliament must
approve the Commission as a whole but does not vote on individual commissioners.
Who is the current EC president?
Who is the Slovak Eurocommisioner?
How does EC work?
In practice, the Commissioners meet every Wednesday morning in Brussels. However,
during the plenary sessions of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, the meeting takes place
on a Tuesday.
European Commission in Brussels
Role: Promotes the general interest of the EU by proposing and enforcing legislation
as well as by implementing policies and the EU budget
Members: A team or 'College' of Commissioners, 1 from each EU country
President: Ursula von der Leyen
Year established: 1958
Location: Brussels (Belgium)
Website: European Commission
The European Commission is the EU's politically independent executive arm. It is alone
responsible for drawing up proposals for new European legislation, and it implements the
decisions of the European Parliament and the Council of the EU. (It is similar to the
Government).
EC explanation video:
https://youtu.be/mE1rnOi8AFc
What does the Commission do?
1. Proposes new laws
The Commission is the sole EU institution proposing laws for adoption by the Parliament and
the Council that:
protect the interests of the EU and its citizens on issues that can't be dealt with
effectively at national level
get technical details right by consulting experts and the public
2. Manages EU policies & allocates EU funding
sets EU spending priorities, together with the Council and Parliament
draws up annual budgets for approval by the Parliament and Council
supervises how the money is spent, under scrutiny by the Court of Auditors
3. Enforces EU law
together with the Court of Justice, ensures that EU law is properly applied in all the
member countries
4. Represents the EU internationally
speaks on behalf of all EU countries in international bodies, in particular in areas of
trade policy and humanitarian aid
negotiates for the EU
Composition
Political leadership is provided by a team of 27 Commissioners (one from each EU country)
– led by the Commission President, who decides who is responsible for which policy area.
The College of Commissioners is composed of the President of the Commission, six Vice-
Presidents, including the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and
Security Policy, and 20 Commissioners, each responsible for a portfolio..
The day-to-day running of Commission business is performed by its staff (lawyers,
economists, etc.), organised into departments known as Directorates-General (DGs), each
responsible for a specific policy area.
Appointing the President
The candidate is put forward by national leaders in the European Council. He or she needs
the support of a majority of members of the European Parliament in order to be elected.
Selecting the team
The Presidential candidate selects potential Vice-Presidents and Commissioners based on
suggestions from the EU countries. Commissioners are nominated by their national
governments. The list of nominees has to be approved by national leaders in the European
Council.
Each nominee appears before the European Parliament to explain their vision and answer
questions. (hearing) Parliament then votes on whether to accept the nominees as a team.
Finally, they are appointed by the European Council, by a qualified majority.
How does the Commission work?
Strategic planning
The President defines the policy direction for the Commission, which enables the
Commissioners together to decide strategic objectives, and produce the annual work
programme.
Collective decision making
Decisions are taken based on collective responsibility. All Commissioners are equal in the
decision-making process and equally accountable for these decisions. They do not have any
individual decision-making powers, except when authorized in certain situations.
The Vice-Presidents act on behalf of the President and coordinate work in their area of
responsibility, together with several Commissioners. Priority projects are defined to help
ensure that the College works together in a close and flexible manner.
Commissioners support Vice-Presidents in submitting proposals to the College. In general,
decisions are made by consensus, but votes can also take place. In this case, decisions are
taken by simple majority, where every Commissioner has one vote.
The relevant Directorate-General (headed by a Director-General, answerable to the relevant
Commissioner) then takes up the subject. This is usually done in the form of draft legislative
proposals.
These are then resubmitted to the Commissioners for adoption at their weekly meeting, after
which they become official, and are sent to the Council and the Parliament for the next stage
in the EU legislative process.
The European Commission and you
Give input
If you want to give your views on EU policies or suggest changes or new policies, you have
various options:
send a response to a Commission public consultation on an issue that concerns you
launch a European Citizens' Initiative
make a formal complaint if you think EU law is not being applied properly in your
case
Get info
The Commission also provides advice & information services to help you with business,
study, legal matters, and moving and working around Europe.
Contact
contact Commission staff (in Brussels, etc.)
apply for a job in EC: -
https://epso.europa.eu
contact EC in Slovakia:
https://europa.eu/european-union/contact/meet-us/slovakia_en
