The European Commission is one of the main institutions of the European Union and acts as its executive body. Its main role is to propose new EU laws, implement decisions, manage day-to-day operations, and uphold the EU treaties.
The Commission is made up of 27 Commissioners, one from each EU member state, including its President (currently Ursula von der Leyen). Each Commissioner is responsible for a specific policy area, similar to a minister in a national government, but they must act in the interest of the EU as a whole, not their own country.
- Proposing legislation: Only the Commission can propose new laws at the EU level, which are then debated and adopted by the European Parliament and the Council of the EU.
- Enforcing EU law: It ensures member states correctly apply EU law. If not, it can take legal action through the Court of Justice of the EU.
- Managing the EU budget and programmes: It oversees spending, including funds for agriculture, research, and youth programmes like Erasmus+.
- Representing the EU internationally: The Commission negotiates trade deals and speaks for the EU on global issues.
The European Commission is based in Brussels, Belgium, with some services also in Luxembourg.
In short, the European Commission is the driving force behind EU policies and law-making, working to serve the common interest of all Europeans.
https://commission.europa.eu/index_en