European Commission
The European Commission
The role and responsibilities of the European Commission place it firmly at the heart of the European Union's policy making process. The Commission is made up of 25 Commissioners, including a President, appointed by the national governments of each Member State, for a term of five years.
Each Commissioner is responsible for a particular area of Community Policy.
Each policy area has a Director-General and staff to carry out and oversee the implementation of that policy.
The European Commission is based in Brussels, and is organised into Directorates-General, dealing with all policy areas from agriculture to overseas development.
The European Commission has four main roles:
- to propose legislation to Parliament and the Council;
- to manage and implement EU policies and the budget;
- to enforce European law (jointly with the Court of Justice);
- to represent the European Union on the international stage, for example by negotiating agreements between the EU and other countries.
For more information click these links:
The European CommissionThe EC Representation in the UK
