European Commission

 European Commission

The European Commission, along with the European Parliament and the Council, is one of the three primary decision-making institutions of the EU, along with the European Parliament and the Council. The European Commission is responsible for representing and defending the interests of all EU citizens. It serves as the executive branch of the European Union's executive branch. Specifically, it is in charge of introducing legislation (right of initiative), implementing decisions, maintaining the Union's treaties (treaty guardian), administering the EU budget, programmes, and overseeing the day-to-day operations of the European Union.

The European Commission's Function

The European Commission serves as the European Union's executive branch. It has four primary functions:

Legislative role - drafting legislation and presenting it to the Parliament and Council;

Implementation function – enacting EU policies;

Legal role - jointly with the Court of Justice, enforcing EU law;

Responsibilities as a representative – representing the EU on an international level.

1. Initiating the process of enacting new legislation

The European Commission has the only authority to propose new European legislation, which means that it is alone responsible for initiating legislation. Legislation proposals are then submitted for approval to the European Parliament and Council.

2. Ensuring the implementation of EU policy and the budget

As the EU's executive body, the European Commission is responsible for enforcing EU law, policies, and programmes enacted by the Parliament and Council, as well as the EU budget.

Once law is enacted, the Commission is responsible for ensuring that it is implemented. The Commission is helped in adopting technical implementing measures by committees comprised of specialists from member states or lobbies. This procedure is referred to as "comitology" in EU language.

3.  Enforcing European law

The European Commission is responsible for ensuring that European law is correctly administered in all member states in its capacity as "keeper of the treaties." It has the authority to initiate an infringement proceeding against member states in the event of a breach of EU legislation (infringement procedure).

4. International representation of the EU

On the international scene, the European Commission serves as an essential spokesperson for the European Union. It negotiates international treaties and accords within the parameters of a mandate established by the Council. As a result, it enables the Union to speak 'in unison' in international fora.Following the establishment of the External Action Service, the Commission's external representation will need to be changed. The European Commission's delegations outside the European Union will become EU delegations.