EU institutions Flashcards

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List of executive agencies

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The European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA)

The European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA)

The Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA)

EISMEA

The Executive Agency for the European Research Council (ERCEA)

European Research Executive Agency (REA)

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CINEA: overview

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Mandate: European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) manages European Commission programmes contributing to decarbonisation and sustainable growth.

Managed programmes: Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) , Horizon Europe, Innovation Fund, LIFE programme, EU Renewable Energy, Financing Mechanism, Just Transition Mechanism, European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund

HQ: Brussels

Date of establishment: 2021

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4
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EISMEA: overview

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Mandate: EISMEA groups together in one agency all the activities of the European Innovation Council (EIC) and the programmes related to small and medium-sized enterprises:European Innovation Council, Single Market Programme, Interregional Innovation Investments

HQ: Brussels

Date of establishment: 2021

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5
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EACEA overview

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Mandate: The European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) manages funding for education, culture, audiovisual, sport, citizenship and volunteering.

Managed programmes: manages most parts of the following EU funding programmes, in close cooperation with other Commission departments: Creative Europe, Erasmus+, European Solidarity Corps, Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values, Intra-Africa Academic Mobility Scheme

HQ: Brussels

Date of establishment: 2021

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6
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HADEA overview

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Mandate: The Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA) addresses the European Commission’s ambition to help rebuild a post-COVID-19 Europe at its heart, which will be greener, more digital and more resilient. It implements actions that strengthen Europe in the domains of health, food safety, digital technologies and networks, industrial capacities and space.

Managed programmes: EU4Health programme, Horizon Europe (Cluster 1 Health and Cluster 4 Digital Industry and Space), Single Market Programme (Food Safety), Digital Europe Programme, CEF (digital).

HQ: Brussels

Date of establishment: 2021

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7
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ERCEA overview

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Mandate: The ERCEA is in charge of implementing and managing the daily operations of the European Research Council

HQ: Brussels

Date of establishment: 2007

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REA overview

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Mandate: The European Research Executive Agency (REA) funds high-quality research and innovation projects that generate knowledge for the benefit of society. REA also manages promotion measures concerning agricultural products. Concretely, Manage research projects supported under HE and H2020

Managed programmes:
Horizon Europe Pillar 1 - Excellent Science (Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions, Research Infrastructures), Horizon Europe Pillar 2 - Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness (Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society, Civil Security for Society, Food, Bio-economy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment)

HQ: Brussels

Date of establishment: 2007

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9
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Agency for Support for BEREC (BEREC Office)

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Mandate: Provide professional and administrative support to the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC)

HQ: Riga (Latvia)

Date of establishment: 2010

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10
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European Union Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER)

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Mandate: ACER plays a key role in driving increased energy market integration across Europe to bring the benefits of affordable, secure and decarbonised energy to European businesses and citizens.

HQ: Ljubljana, Slovenia

Date of establishment: 2011

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11
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Community Plant Variety Office (CPVO)

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Mandate: managing the EU plant variety rights system

HQ: Angers (France)

Date of establishment: 1995

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12
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Eurofound

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Mandate: Provides research-based input for the development of social, employment and work-related policies

HQ: Dublin (Ireland)

Date of establishment:1975

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13
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European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA)

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Mandate: Collect, analyse and disseminate information for those involved in safety and health at work

HQ: Bilbao (Spain)

Date of establishment: 1994

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14
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European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation (Eurojust)

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Mandate: helps national authorities cooperate to combat terrorism and serious organised crime involving more than one EU country. The European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation (Eurojust) facilitates judicial coordination and cooperation between national authorities by giving hands-on support to prosecutors in the fight against serious cross-border crime and terrorism.

Members: College of Eurojust, one national member from each country

HQ: The Hague (the Netherlands)

Date of establishment: 2002

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15
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European Banking Authority (EBA)

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Mandate: to build a single regulatory and supervisory framework for the entire EU banking sector.

Tasks:
* provides input into the creation of a single, standard set of rules for EU banking – the Single Rulebook
* provides centralised disclosure of supervisory data on EU banks (to increase transparency, market discipline and financial stability across the EU)
* promotes cooperation between national authorities on supervising banking groups that operate in more than 1 country, and mediates disputes involving more than 1 country
* promotes a transparent, simple and fair EU market for consumers of financial products and services, and ensures all consumers are treated fairly and protected across the EU

HQ: Paris (France)

Date of establishment: 2011

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European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)

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Mandate: Strengthening Europe’s defences against infectious diseases

HQ: Stockholm (Sweden)

Date of establishment: 2005

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17
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European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop)

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Mandate: Cedefop provides the data on which vocational education and training policy in the EU is based. The European Centre for the Development of Vocational training (Cedefop) helps develop and implement EU vocational training policies.

HQ: Thessaloniki (Greece)

Date of establishment: 1975

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18
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European Environment Agency (EEA)

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Mandate: The EEA is Europe’s knowledge hub for environment, climate and sustainability.

HQ: Copenhagen

Partners: EU countries, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Türkiye and Switzerland

Date of establishment: 1990 (operational since 1994)

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19
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European Chemicals Agency (ECHA)

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Mandate: The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) works for the safe use of chemicals. It implements the EU’s groundbreaking chemicals legislation, benefiting human health, the environment and innovation and competitiveness in Europe.

HQ: Helsinki, Finland

Date of establishment: 2007

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20
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European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA)

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Mandate: EFCA ensures that the EU’s common fisheries policy is applied properly. EFCA’s mission is to promote the highest common standards for control, inspection and surveillance under the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). EFCA does this by coordinating the cooperation between national control and inspection activities.

HQ: Vigo (Spain)

Date of establishment: 2005

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21
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European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)

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Mandate: Provides scientific advice & communicates on existing & emerging risks associated with the food chain

HQ: Parma

Date of establishment: 2002

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22
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European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE)

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Mandate: produces independent research and shares best practice to promote gender equality and eliminate discrimination based on gender

HQ: Vilnius (Lithuania)

Date of establishment: 2010

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23
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European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA)

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Mandate: EIOPA is the European supervisory authority for occupational pensions and insurance

Members: Representatives of national insurance and occupational pensions authorities

HQ: Frankfurt am Main (Germany)

Date of establishment: 2011

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European Labour Authority (ELA)

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Mandate: The European Labour Authority helps improve cooperation between EU countries, coordinates joint inspections, carries out analyses and risk assessments on cross-border labour mobility issues and mediates disputes between EU countries

HQ: Bratislava, Slovakia

Date of establishment: 2019

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European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA)

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Mandate: Offers technical expertise and operational assistance in maritime safety, security and pollution

HQ: Lisbon (Portugal)

Date of establishment: 2002

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European Medicines Agency (EMA)

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Mandate: EMA guarantees the scientific evaluation, supervision & safety monitoring of human & veterinary medicines in the EU.

HQ: Amsterdam (the Netherlands)

Date of establishment: 1995

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European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA)

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Mandate: To provide factual, objective, reliable and comparable information on drugs and drug addiction.

HQ: Lisbon (Portugal)

Date of establishment: 1993

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European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO)

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Mandate: European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) is an independent public prosecution office of the European Union. It is responsible for investigating, prosecuting and bringing to judgment crimes against the financial interests of the EU. These include several types of fraud, VAT fraud with damages above 10 million euro, money laundering, corruption, etc.

Partners: OLAF, Eurojust, Europol, European Court of Auditors, European Investment Bank and the European Investment Fund. EU, judicial authorities

HQ: Luxembourg

Date of establishment: 2001

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European Training Foundation (ETF)

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Mandate: The ETF supports human development in neighbouring countries. The ETF supports human development in 29 partner countries (in south-eastern Europe and Turkey, eastern Europe, the southern and eastern Mediterranean and central Asia).

HQ: Turin (Italy)

Date of establishment: 1994

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European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA)

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Mandate: Support the national authorities of EU countries to implement the Common European Asylum System by providing operational and technical assistance.

HQ: Valletta, Malta

Date of establishment: 2022

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European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA)

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Mandate: ENISA is dedicated to achieving a high common level of cybersecurity across Europe. The Agency works with organisations and businesses to strengthen trust in the digital economy, boost the resilience of the EU’s infrastructure, and, ultimately, keep EU citizens digitally safe. It does this by sharing knowledge, developing staff and structures, and raising awareness. The EU Cybersecurity Act has strengthened the agency’s work.

HQ: Headquarters in Athens with offices in Heraklion and Brussels

Date of establishment: 2004

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European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA)

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Mandate: provides evidence-based advice on fundamental rights

HQ: Vienna (Austria)

Date of establishment: 2007

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European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL)

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Mandate: provides European and international law enforcement training

HQ: Budapest (Hungary)

Date of establishment: 20056

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European Union Agency for Railways (ERA)

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Mandate: the ERA is helping to integrate European railway systems by making trains safer and able to cross national borders without stopping. IT has worked to develop economically viable common technical standards and safety measures and targets in cooperation with the rail sector, national authorities, EU institutions and other bodies.

HQ: Valenciennes, Lille

Date of establishment: 2016

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European Union Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice (eu-LISA)

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Mandate: Support the implementation of the EU’s Justice and Home Affairs policies by managing large-scale IT systems

HQ: Tallinn (Estonia), operational site: Strasbourg (France), back-up site: Sankt Johann im Pangau (Austria)

Date of establishment: 2011, operational since 2012

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European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA)

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Mandate: EUSPA manages public interests related to the European Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) programmes EGNOS (European Geostationary Navigation Overlay System) and Galileo, the Earth observation (EO) programme Copernicus, and the European Union Governmental Satellite Communications (GOVSATCOM) programme

HQ: Prague (Czech Republic)

Date of establishment: 2004

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European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)

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Mandate: Ensuring safety and environmental protection in civil aviation in Europe

Partners: European civil aviation authorities

HQ: Cologne (Germany)

Date of establishment: 2002

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European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO)

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Mandate: The EU Intellectual Property Office manages the EU Trade Mark and Design rights, the Observatory on Infringements of Intellectual Property Rights and the Orphan Works Database.

HQ: Alicante (Spain)

Date of establishment:1994

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European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol)

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Mandate: Europol helps national law enforcement authorities fight serious international crime and terrorism. The European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) is the EU’s law enforcement agency, whose remit is to help make Europe safer by assisting law enforcement authorities in EU member countries.

HQ: The Hague (Netherlands)

Date of establishment: 1999

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Single Resolution Board (SRB)

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Mandate: Ensure the orderly resolution of failing banks, with minimum impact on the real economy and the public finances of the participating EU countries and others

Partners: European Parliament, European Commission, European Central Bank (ECB), National Resolution Authorities (NRAs), European Banking Authority (EBA)

HQ: Brussels (Belgium)

Date of establishment: 2015

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European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex)

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Mandate: Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, supports EU and Schengen countries in the management of the EU’s external borders and the fight against cross-border crime.

HQ: Warsaw (Poland)

Date of establishment: 2004

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The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA)

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Mandate: to improve investor protection and promote stable, orderly financial markets

Members: National authorities responsible for securities markets in each EU country.

Non-voting members: European Banking Authority (EBA), European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA), European Systemic Risk Board (ESRB), European Commission (EC), Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway

HQ: Paris (France)

Date of establishment: 2011

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Translation Centre for the Bodies of the European Union (CdT)

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Mandate: Translation and related language services for EU agencies, bodies and institutions; interinstitutional cooperation

HQ: Luxembourg

Date of establishment: 1994

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European Ombudsman - Role and mandate, when it investigates, HQ

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The Ombudsman investigates complaints about maladministration in the institutions and bodies of the European Union, including the European Commission, the Council of the EU, the European Parliament, the Committee of Regions, the Economic and Social Committee and all of EU agencies.

Only the Court of Justice, the Court of First Instance and the Civil Service Tribunal, acting in their judicial role, are beyond his jurisdiction. The Ombudsman usually conducts inquiries on the basis of complaints but can also take the initiative to start them.

The European Ombudsman’s offices are in the European Parliament’s buildings in Strasbourg.

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European Ombudsman - list of titleholders

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1995 - 2003: Jacob Söderman
2003 - 2007: Paraskevas Diamandouros
2013 - today: Emily O’Reilly

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European Ombudsman - Legal basis and appointment procedure

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Established by the Mastricht Treaty, embedded in Article 228 TFEU

At the beginning of each parliamentary term, the procedure for electing the European Ombudsman has to be set in motion.

A candidate must have the support of at least 39 Members of the European Parliament from at least two Member States.

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OLAF: year founded, tasks, scope of investigations and actions

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Founded: 1999

Tasks: to fight fraud affecting the EU budget;
investigate corruption by staff of EU institutions; and
develop anti-fraud legislation and policies

Scope of investigation:
all EU expenditure: the main spending categories are Structural Funds, agricultural policy and rural development funds, direct expenditure and external aid;
some areas of EU revenue, mainly customs duties;
suspicions of serious misconduct by EU staff and members of the EU institutions.

Type of investigations and possible action: internal, external investigations, coordination cases. After an investigation is concluded, OLAF recommends action to the EU institutions and national authorities concerned. It has no powers to prosecute or discipline no judicial, no powers to oblige national law enforcement authorities to act on its follow-up recommendations.

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EPPO - Year founded, HQ, MS part of it, Tasks and covered crimes, scope, action and difference to other security bodies of EU

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Founded: 2017, 2021 start of operations

HQ: Luxembourg

MS: 24 through enhanced cooperation.

Task: The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) is an independent public prosecution office of the European Union. It is responsible for investigating, prosecuting and bringing to judgment crimes against the financial interests of the EU. These include several types of fraud, cross-border VAT fraud with damages above 10 million euro, money laundering, corruption, misappropriation of EU funds and assets by officials.

Scope: All revenues, expenditures and assets covered by, acquired through, or due to the European Union budget and the budgets of the institutions, bodies, offices and agencies established under the Treaties, and budgets managed and monitored by them.

Action and difference to existing organisations: The EPPO undertakes investigations, carries out acts of prosecution and exercises the functions of prosecutor in the competent courts of the participating Member States, until the case has been finally disposed of. Organisations like Eurojust, OLAF and Europol do not have the necessary powers to carry out such criminal investigations and prosecutions.

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European Data Protection Supervisor

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Formed in 2004

List of holders: Peter Hustinx, Giovanni Buttarelli, Wojciech Wiewiórowski (incumbent)

Appointment: By Council and EP

Task: to monitor and ensure that European institutions and bodies respect the right to privacy and data protection when they process personal data and develop new policies

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Commission Data Protection Officer incumbent

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Michelle Sutton

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EESC - date founded, legal basis, tasks, members and appointment

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Formation: 1958, established 1957 by Treaty of Rome

Legal basis in Treaty: Article 13(4) of the Treaty on European Union (TEU); Articles 300-304 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU);

HQ: Brussels

Overview: advisory assembly composed of representatives from employers’ associations (Group I), workers’ unions (trade unions, group II) and civil society organisations (group III). Its opinions are required on the basis of a mandatory consultation in the fields established by the Treaties or a voluntary consultation by the Commission, the Council or Parliament. It may also issue opinions on its own initiative.

Members and appointment: It is composed of 329 members, with proportional numbers per MS population. The members of the committee are appointed by the Council by qualified majority, on the basis of proposals by the Member States.

President: Oliver Röpke

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European Defence Agency (EDA)

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Mandate: The European Defence Agency (EDA) supports its 27 Member States in improving their defence capabilities through European cooperation. Acting as an enabler and facilitator for Ministries of Defence willing to engage in collaborative, capability projects, the Agency has become the ‘hub’ for European defence cooperation with expertise and networks allowing it to cover the whole spectrum.

HQ: Brussels

Date of establishment: 2004

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EU Satellite Centre (SatCen)

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Mandate: The EU Satellite Centre supports the decision making and actions of the European Union in the field of Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), in particular Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), including European Union crisis management missions and operations, by providing products and services resulting from the exploitation of relevant space assets and collateral data, including satellite imagery and aerial imagery, and related services.
Users: Main users of SatCen services are the European External Action Service, EU Member States, EU missions and operations, the European Commission, other EU Agencies, such as Frontex, Third States and international organisations such as the UN and OSCE.
HQ: Torrejón de Ardoz (Spain)
Date of establishment: 2002 (originally as Western European Body in 1992)

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European Space Agency (ESA)

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Mandate: The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world. It is NOT an EU agency

HQ: Paris

Members: 22 member countries

Date of establishment: 1975

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European Medicals Agency (EMA)

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Mandate: The European Medicines Agency (EMA) is a decentralised agency of the European Union (EU). It is responsible for the scientific evaluation, supervision and safety monitoring of medicines. EMA protects public and animal health in EU Member States, as well as the countries of the European Economic Area, by ensuring that all medicines available on the EU market are safe, effective and of high quality.

HQ: Amsterdam

Date of establishment: 1995

52
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HR/VP - list of holders and history

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History: The role of ‘High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy’ was created by the Treaty of Amsterdam in 1999.

  • Incumbent: Kaja Kallas (since 2024).
  • Previous HR/VPs were Catherine Ashton (2009 – 2014), Federica Mogherini (2014 – 2019), Josep Borell (2019-2024)
  • Javier Solana was the fist and only High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, Secretary General of the Council of the European Union., 1999-2009
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