European Commission Flashcards
What is the role of the European Commission?
Promotes the general interest
proposing and enforcing legislation
implementing policies and the EU budget
Who are the members of the European Commission?
A team or ‘College’ of Commissioners
How many members does each EU country send for the European Commission?
One
Who is the president for the European Commission?
Jean-Claude Juncker
When was the European Commission established?
1958
Where is the European Commission located?
Brussels, Belgium
What is the European Commission responsible for?
drawing up proposals for new European legislation
implements the decisions of the European Parliament and the Council of the EU.
What does the European Commission do?
Proposes new laws
Manages EU policies & allocates EU funding
Enforces EU law
Represents the EU internationally
European Commission: proposes new laws
The Commission is the sole EU institution tabling 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.
European Commission: manages EU policies & allocates 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.
European Commission: enforces EU laws
Together with the Court of Justice, ensures that EU law is properly applied in all the member countries.
European Commission: 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 international agreements for the EU.
European Commission: political leadership is provided by
28 commissioners - one from each EU country - who are led by the president (Jean-Claude Juncker)
The Collage of Commissioners is composed of
President of the Commission, its six Vice-Presidents, including the First Vice-President, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and 21 Commissioners, each responsible for a portfolio.
The day to day running of the Commission business is performed by
It’s staff (lawyers, economists etc) organised into departments know. As Directorates-General, each responsible for a specific policy area
How is the president for the European Commission selected?
The candidate is put forward by national leaders in the European Council, taking account of the results of the European Parliament elections.
He or she needs the support of a majority of members of the European Parliament in order to be elected.
The Presidential candidate selects potential Vice-Presidents and Commissioners based on
suggestions from the EU countries.
The list of nominees has to be approved by national leaders in the European Council.
Each Vice-President nominee appears before the European Parliament to explain
their vision and answer questions.
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 European Commission work?
Strategic planning
Collective decision making
The European Commission: strategic planning
The President decides the policy direction for the Commission, which enables the Commissioners together to decide strategic objectives, and produce the annual work programme.
The European Commission: collective decision making
All commissioners are equal in the decision making process.
They don’t have any individual decision making powers.
The Vice-Presidents act on behalf of the President and coordinate work in their area of responsibility, together with several Commissioners.
Commissioners support Vice-Presidents in submitting proposals to the College.
