The EU Commission

Question 1

What is the main role of the EU Commission?

Answer 1

To promote the general interest of the EU by proposing and enforcing legislation as well as by implementing policies and the EU budget
It’s the EU’s POLITICALLY INDEPENDENT EXECUTIVE ARM

Question 2

Who are the members of the EU Commission?

Answer 2

A team of 27 “Commissioneers” 1 from each MS, each having their own specific field of responsibility

Question 3

What does the EU Commission do?

Answer 3

• it has the RIGHT OF INITIATIVE, meaning that it proposes new laws: it has quasi-monopoly on this point due to its independence & technical skills –> it’s up to it to start the procedure for the adoption of legal acts
• it manages EU policies and allocates EU fundings
• it enforces EU law with the ECJ and is the “Guardian of the Treaties” since:
  a. it can trigger infringement procedures
  b. it can challenge the validity of legal acts adopted by other EU institutions
• it represents the EU internationally
• executive power –> residual task= only if MS cannot ensure the implementation of EU laws, the Commission may intervene

Question 4

What is the composition of the Commission?

Answer 4

• 27 Commissioneers

- mandate= 5 years –> strictly related to the one of the EU Parliament

Question 5

How does the Commission work?

Answer 5

1. the EP proposes a possible candidate as President of the Commission
2. once the President is chosen –> it drafts a list of possible Commissioneers thanks to an interaction with MS –> each of them expresses a candidate
3. the list of nominees has to be approved by national leaders in the EU Council
4. each nominee appears before the EP to explain their vision and answer questions –> Parliament then votes on whether to accept the nominees as a team
5. the nominees are appointed by the EU Council by a QUALIFIED MAJORITY

Question 6

Who is the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy?

Answer 6

• it’s the Vice President of the Commission= he/she is in charge of representing the Union with regard to foreign affairs and security policy
• it has 3 different jobs:
  a. Head of the EEAS
  b. Chairman of the RELEX Composition of the Council of the EU
  c. Vice President of the EU Commission