The European Commission

The Role of the Commission

The European Commission is one of the European institutions participating in the decision-making process of the Union. It was created to represent the European interest common to all Member States of the Union. The Commission has been given a right of initiative in the legislative process, proposing the legislation on which the European Parliament and Council decide. The Commission is also responsible for implementing common policies; it administers the budget and manages the Union's programmes.

The Structure of the Commission

1. President:

The President of the Commission is appointed by the governments of the Member States, and then approved by the European Parliament. The presidential term lasts five years.

Responsibilities:

• Providing political guidance both to the Commissioners, and to the Commission as a whole

• Calls and chairs meetings of the Commission

• Represents the Commission in meetings of the European Council and the G8, and takes part on the major debates of the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers

• Holds the responsibility for the advancement of the EU

2. The College
The Commission acts "collectively" in compliance with the political guidelines established by its President. This principle of collective responsibility is based on the equal participation of the Members of the Commission (Commissioners) in institutional decision-making. It means that decisions are deliberated collectively and that all Members have a collective responsibility. The "College" of Commissioners is thus a collective decision-making body with a single voice.

The college of Commissioners is made up of one Commissioner from each Member State.

3. DGs – Directorates-General
In order to prepare the ground for and implement action by the Commission as a College, the institution is structured into different departments called "directorates-general". The European Commission is divided into 26 directorates-general (DGs) and nine services, which are in turn divided into directorates and then units. At the head of these different organisational levels, there is a director-general, a director and a head of unit respectively.

The Commission and the European Funding System
The Commission proposes the “preliminary draft budget” that is submitted to the Council of the EU in April or the beginning of May. The Commission has the ultimate responsibility for the implementation of the budget. Member States are required to cooperate with the Commission to ensure that the funds are used in accordance with principles of sound financial management. The Commission has to produce a set of implementing Rules that explain in detail how the Financial Regulation is to be applied.

The staff of Directorate Generals manages the European Union Programmes and activities in their respective policy area, and in liaison with their counterparts in the member States as necessary. Directorate Generals must make a report each year, reviewing the work of their departments and commenting on the use made of the resources that were put at their disposal.

Website of the European Commission