The European Commission has four main functions:

Legislative function

Invested with the right of initiative, the Commission plays a central role in the community’s legislative process. This right enables the Commission to submit proposals for laws to the Council of the European Union and to the European Parliament and thus to decide on the subjects that should be dealt with by the member states and the European Parliament. A legislative act for the Union can only be adopted at the proposal of the Commission unless there is an exception in the treaty. In fact, the Commission follows the orientations established by the European Council.
 

• Within the common policies, the Commission's right of initiative is exclusive: the Commission draws up the legislative texts (directives and regulations) and submits them to the European Parliament and the Council for deliberation according to subject matter. The Commission’s proposals must be developed while respecting the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality.

• The Commission shares its right of initiative with the member states in the framework of the Common Foreign and Security Policy and in Freedom, Security and Justice. It shares right of initiative with member states and the European Central Bank on the subject of economic and monetary union. 

Executive function

The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. It implements the legislative acts adopted by the European Parliament and the Council. It is also in charge of carrying out the budget and managing certain community programmes such as the European Social Fund (ESF). 

Monitoring application of community law

The Commission is the “guardian of the treaties”. It monitors, under the supervision of the Court of Justice of the European Union, the correct application of the treaties and the decisions taken to implement them. If community law is not applied or incorrectly applied by a member state, the Commission can refer the matter to the Court of Justice of the European Union so that they can impose sanctions on the member state.
 
The Commission particularly monitors the application of competition rules. It controls the allocation of state aid (public subsidies). It can also make the decision to impose fines on companies in breach of competition rules. These companies can make an appeal to the Court of First Instance (CFI). 

Representative function

With the exception of the Common Foreign and Security Policy which is under the control of the President of the European Council and the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Commission represents the European Union abroad (trade policy, naming delegations etc.) and in internal law. 

The President of the European Commission, José Manuel Durao Barroso:
José Manuel Durao Barroso was first appointed head of the Commission on November 22nd 2004 and his mandate was renewed for a second term on September 16th 2009. In his programme presented in September 2009, Mr. Barroso was particularly committed to reforming the European economy and finances, fighting unemployment, improving coordination of European policies, developing a European digital agenda, improving the European Commission’s communications and establishing a special partnership between Commission and Parliament.

Political guidelines for the next Commission

Since January 1st 2007 and the accession of Romania and Bulgaria, the Commission has had 27 Commissioners (including the president and the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy), i.e. one per member state.
 
The Lisbon Treaty allowed for the Commission to consist of a number of Commissioners amounting to 2/3 of the number of member states unless the European Council unanimously decided otherwise. This would have taken effect as of November 1st 2014. However, following the Irish rejection of the treaty in June 2008 and to enable a second referendum to be held, the conclusions of the European Council in December 2008 (restated in June 2009) ensured that the number of Commissioners would remain at one per member state. 

Appointing commissioners

European Commissioners are nominated for a renewable five-year term and chosen for their general competence. The President is now elected by the European Parliament by simple majority at the proposal of the European Council. If the candidate does not get a majority of the vote, the European Council proposes another candidate to be voted on by qualified majority. The President of the Commission, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy as well as the Commissioners chosen by common consent between the European Council and the President of the Commission are subject, as a body, to a vote of approval by the European Parliament after each has undergone a hearing.  The MEPs approve or reject the Commission in its entirety.

In agreement with the Council of the EU, the President of the Commission names the Commissioners and then grants each one a specific portfolio (for example, managing competition policy, employment policy etc.). He also names the Vice-Presidents with the exception of the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (who is chosen by the member states) and, if necessary, reorganises the college during the mandate.  Furthermore, the President establishes the general policy directions that the Commissioners will follow in carrying out their duties. 

Le vote d'approbation de la Commission Barroso II devrait intervenir lors d'une session plénière du Parlement européen le 26 janvier. Les auditions, publiques, se tiendront du 11 au 19 janvier 2010.

Independence

The action of the European Commission is based on the principle of independence. Although one Commissioner per member state is appointed, they are chosen for their competence and act in the general interest of the Union. Unlike members of the European Council or the Council of the European Union, they do not represent their home nation. 

Collegial decision making

The Commission works according to the principle of collegiality, meaning that decisions are made collectively by the college of Commissioners and not by each individual Commissioner. By virtue of its staff (approximately 27,000 people in 2007), the Commission is the largest institution in the Union. About 80% of the personnel are divided between some 40 Directorate Generals (DGs) and decentralised services. The rest of the staff work in translation and interpreting services. 

Political control of the European Commission

The Commission collectively resigned for the first time in its history on March 16th 1999.

Besides the process of appointing members to the Commission, the European Parliament can adopt a motion of censure voted by a majority of MEPs and 2/3 of the vote. If the motion of censure is adopted, the Commission members must collectively leave their positions.

The headquarters of the Commission are in Brussels but the institution also has representations in each member state and delegations in candidate countries and non-EU countries.  

Useful addresses

European Commission - B-1049 Brussels - Tél.: 00.322.299.11.11

Representation of the European Commission in France - 288, boulevard Saint Germain - 75007 Paris - Tél.: 01.40.63.38.00

Useful sites

Website of the European Commission

Website of the European Commission in France

Lisbon Treaty - Europa

Consolidated version of the Lisbon Treaty - Europa

Mise à jour : 01/02/10