European Commission

The European Commission (formally the Commission of the European Communities) is the executive of the European Union. Alongside the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union, it is one of the three main institutions governing the Union. Its primary roles are to propose and enact legislation, and to act as 'guardian of the treaties' which provide the legal basis for the EU. The role of the European Commission has many parallels with the executive body of a national government, but also differences (see below for details).

Appointment and makeup of the Commission

President and Commissioners

The President of the Commission is chosen by the European Council, but the choice must be approved by the European Parliament. The remaining Commissioners are appointed by the member states in agreement with the President, who must decide the role of each Commissioner. Finally, the new Commission as a whole must be approved by the Parliament.

Related Topics:
European Council - European Parliament

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In October 2004, the first proposed list of Commissioners for the Barroso Commission was withdrawn when it became clear that the Parliament would not endorse it. José Manuel Durão Barroso then made a number of changes to particular proposed appointments that had been controversial, and a revised list was accepted by the Parliament on 18 November 2004.

Related Topics:
Barroso Commission - 18 November - 2004

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In addition to its role in approving a new Commission, the European Parliament has the power at any time to force the entire Commission to resign through a vote of no confidence. (This requires a vote that makes up at least two-thirds of those voting and a majority of the total membership of the Parliament). While it has never used this power, it threatened to use it against the Commission headed by Jacques Santer in 1999, with the result that the whole Commission resigned of its own accord. (See the Santer Commission Resignation for more details).

Related Topics:
Jacques Santer - Santer Commission Resignation

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The present Commission, the Barroso Commission, consists of 25 Commissioners. This Commission will serve from 22 November, 2004 to 31 October, 2009.

Related Topics:
Barroso Commission - 22 November - 2004 - 31 October - 2009

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

: Main article: Barroso Commission

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The enlargement of the Union on 1 May 2004 increased the number of member states from 15 to 25, and had an effect on the make-up of the Commission. Prior to this date, there were 20 Commissioners. In the months after May 2004 the size of the Commission was temporarily increased to 30 members - consisting of the 20 Commissioners already in post, plus one from each of the 10 acceding member states. The number was reduced to 25, with one Commissioner from each member state, when the Barroso commission took office in November 2004.

Related Topics:
Enlargement of the Union - 1 May - 2004

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

If the new Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe is adopted, the size of the Commission will be further reduced. Member states will take it in turns to nominate Commissioners, with any given state making a nomination on two out of every three occasions that a new Commission is to be appointed.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Civil servants

The Commission is divided into departments known as Directorates-General. Some Directorates cover an internal area of policy (e.g. the Directorate-General for Education and Culture), while others cover external policy (e.g. the Directorate-General for Enlargement) and still others perform internal services (e.g. the Directorate-General for Personnel and Administration).

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Each Directorate-General is supervised by a senior civil servant known as the Director-General, who reports directly to the Commissioner or Commissioners responsible for that policy area. (Full list of DGs)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~