European Commission facts for kids

Quick facts for kids European Commission
Name in official languages Bulgarian: Европейска комисия Croatian: Europska komisija Czech: Evropská komise Danish: Europa-Kommissionen Dutch: Europese Commissie English: European Commission Estonian: Euroopa Komisjon Finnish: Euroopan komissio French: Commission européenne German: Europäische Kommission Greek: Ευρωπαϊκή Επιτροπή Hungarian: Európai Bizottság Irish: Coimisiún Eorpach Italian: Commissione europea Latvian: Eiropas Komisija Lithuanian: Europos Komisija Maltese: Kummissjoni Ewropea Polish: Komisja Europejska Portuguese: Comissão Europeia Romanian: Comisia Europeană Slovak: Európska komisia Slovene: Evropska komisija Spanish: Comisión Europea Swedish: Europeiska kommissionen
Overview
Polity	European Union
Leader	President (Ursula von der Leyen)
Appointed by	Nominated by the European Council and confirmed by the European Parliament
Main organ	College of Commissioners
Ministries	33 Directorates-General Agriculture and Rural Development Budget Climate Action Communication Communications Networks, Content and Technology Competition Economic and Financial Affairs Education and Culture Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion Energy Environment European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations Eurostat Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union Health and Food Safety Human Resources and Security Informatics Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs International Cooperation and Development Interpretation Joint Research Centre Justice and Consumers Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Migration and Home Affairs Mobility and Transport Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations Regional and Urban Policy Research and Innovation Taxation and Customs Union Trade Translation
Responsible to	European Parliament
Headquarters	Brussels, Belgium Luxembourg City, Luxembourg

The Berlaymont building, where the European Commission works.

The European Commission (EC) is like the main executive branch of the European Union (EU). Think of it as the EU's government cabinet. It has 27 members, called "Commissioners," and is led by a President.

About 32,000 people work for the Commission as European civil servants. The Commission is split into departments called Directorates-General (DGs). Each DG is like a government ministry and is led by a Director-General who reports to a Commissioner.

There is one Commissioner from each EU country. However, these Commissioners promise to work for the good of the entire EU, not just their home country. The Commission President (currently Ursula von der Leyen) is suggested by the European Council (EU country leaders). Then, the European Parliament votes to approve the President.

The Council of the European Union then suggests the other Commissioners, working with the chosen President. Finally, all 27 Commissioners are approved as a team by the European Parliament. The current group of Commissioners is called the Von der Leyen Commission. They started their work in December 2019.

History of the European Commission

The European Commission comes from one of the first important groups created for the European Community. This idea was suggested by Robert Schuman in 1950. It started in 1951 as the "High Authority" for the European Coal and Steel Community. Since then, the Commission has changed a lot in its powers and members.

How it Started

The first Commission began in 1951 with nine members. It was called the "High Authority" and was led by President Jean Monnet. This group was the main executive body for the new European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC). It started its work on August 10, 1952, in Luxembourg City.

In 1958, new agreements called the Treaties of Rome created two more communities: the European Economic Community (EEC) and European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom). Their executive bodies were called "Commissions," not "High Authorities." This change happened because some countries, like France, wanted the Council to have more power than these new executive groups.

Walter Hallstein, the first President of the EEC Commission.

Louis Armand led the first Euratom Commission. Walter Hallstein led the first EEC Commission. They had their first official meeting on January 16, 1958. Hallstein's Commission helped create common European laws. It also made a good impression on other countries during international trade talks.

In 1965, there were disagreements between the French government and other member states. This led to a crisis, which eventually caused Walter Hallstein to lose his presidency.

Early Growth

The three separate executive bodies came together on July 1, 1967. This happened under the Merger Treaty. They formed one single administration led by President Jean Rey. Because of this merger, the Rey Commission temporarily had 14 members. Later Commissions went back to nine members. This was usually one member for small countries and two for larger ones.

The Rey Commission finished creating the Community's customs union in 1968. It also pushed for a stronger, elected European Parliament. Even though Rey was the first President of the combined communities, Hallstein is often seen as the first President of the modern Commission.

The Malfatti and Mansholt Commissions worked on money cooperation. They also oversaw the first expansion of the EU in 1973. With this expansion, the number of Commissioners grew to thirteen under the Ortoli Commission. This Commission managed the larger community during a time of economic trouble.

Roy Jenkins became the first Commission President to attend a G8 summit. This showed that the Community was becoming more important on the world stage. The Thorn Commission then oversaw the EU's expansion to southern Europe. It also started work on the Single European Act.

Jacques Delors' Time as President

President Delors, a very important leader for the Commission.

The Commission led by Jacques Delors gave the European Community a clear direction and energy. Delors and his team are also seen as the "founding fathers" of the euro currency. Many people praised Delors for bringing new life and hope to the EU during a difficult time. He pushed for a single market and then for closer economic and political union.

Jacques Santer's Commission

Jacques Santer took over from Delors. In 1999, the entire Santer Commission had to resign because of problems with how things were managed. This was the first time a group of Commissioners had to resign all at once. This event showed that the Parliament had gained more power. The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) was created after this to prevent similar issues.

Romano Prodi's Commission

After Santer, Romano Prodi became President. The Treaty of Amsterdam had given the Commission more powers. Prodi was even called a "Prime Minister" by the press. The Treaty of Nice, signed in 2001, gave Presidents even more power over choosing their Commissioners.

José Manuel Barroso's Commission

José Manuel Barroso became President in 2004. The Parliament again raised concerns about some of his suggested Commissioners. Because of this, Barroso had to change his team before they could start work. His Commission was the first full one after the EU expanded to 25 members in 2004.

The number of Commissioners was set to be one per country, instead of two for larger countries. This change happened because of the increase in member states.

The Treaty of Lisbon, which started in 2009, changed how Commissioners are chosen. It said that the number of Commissioners should be fewer than the number of member states from 2014. However, after Ireland voted against the treaty partly due to this, a guarantee was given that every country would still have a Commissioner.

The Lisbon Treaty also combined two important roles: the European Commissioner for External Relations and the Council's High Representative for Foreign Affairs. This new role, also a Vice-President of the Commission, leads foreign affairs meetings. The treaty also says that the results of European elections should be considered when choosing the Commission President.

Jean-Claude Juncker's Commission

In 2014, Jean-Claude Juncker became President of the European Commission. He appointed Martin Selmayr as his chief of staff. Selmayr was seen as a very powerful figure during Juncker's time as President.

Ursula von der Leyen's Commission

The current President, Ursula von der Leyen.

In 2019, Ursula von der Leyen was chosen as President of the European Commission. She presented her plans to the European Parliament on July 16, 2019. She was not the expected candidate, as the usual process involves picking a leader from the winning party in the European election. However, the European People's Party chose her instead.

On September 9, the Council of the European Union announced a list of candidate-commissioners. These candidates are sent by each member state's government. The Parliament then has to officially approve them.

What the Commission Does

The Commission was created to be an independent body, separate from national governments. Its members are suggested by their home countries, but they must act independently. This means they should not be influenced by the governments that appointed them. This is different from the Council, which represents governments, or the Parliament, which represents citizens.

According to Article 17 of the Treaty on European Union, the Commission has several important jobs:

• It develops long-term plans for the EU.
• It writes new laws and helps guide them through the law-making process.
• It represents the EU in trade talks with other countries.
• It creates rules and regulations, for example, in how companies compete fairly.
• It prepares the budget of the European Union for the EU.
• It checks that EU laws and agreements are being followed.

Executive Power

The Commission holds most of the executive power in the EU. This means it carries out the decisions and policies. Before the Treaty of Lisbon, the Council gave the Commission its powers. Now, the Commission has its powers directly from the EU treaties.

However, the Commission's powers are more limited than most national governments. For example, it doesn't have much power over foreign policy. That power belongs more to the Council of the European Union and the European Council.

Proposing Laws

The Commission is unique because it is the only EU body that can formally propose new laws. Other parts of the EU government cannot start new laws. The Council and Parliament can ask the Commission to create laws. In most cases, the Commission starts new laws based on these requests. This special power helps make sure EU laws are well-planned and consistent.

The Commission's power to propose laws often focuses on economic rules. It has suggested many rules based on a "precautionary principle." This means that if there's a possible danger to the environment or people's health, rules are made to prevent it. For example, this applies to fighting climate change and limiting genetically modified organisms. The European Commission has committed EU countries to become carbon neutral by 2050.

Because the European market is so big, EU laws often influence rules around the world. The Commission sometimes proposes stricter laws than other countries.

Recently, the Commission has also started creating European criminal laws. For example, after a toxic waste spill from a European ship, the Commission looked into laws against toxic waste. This led to ideas for "ecological crimes."

Making Sure Laws are Followed

Once the Council and Parliament pass a law, the Commission is responsible for making sure it is put into action. It does this by working with member states or through its own agencies. The Commission also makes sure the EU budget is spent correctly, working with the Court of Auditors.

The Commission also has a duty to make sure EU treaties and laws are followed. It can take member states or other EU groups to the Court of Justice if there is a disagreement. In this role, it is sometimes called the "Guardian of the Treaties."

Finally, the Commission helps represent the EU to the rest of the world. It represents the EU in groups like the World Trade Organization. The President of the Commission also usually attends meetings of the G7 world leaders.

The College of Commissioners

The Commission is made up of a group of "Commissioners." There are 28 members, including the President and Vice-Presidents. Each member is suggested by their home country. But, they are not supposed to represent their country's interests in the Commission. However, in reality, they sometimes do push for their country's needs.

Once the President is chosen, they decide which "portfolio" (area of responsibility) each Commissioner will have. A Commissioner's power often depends on their portfolio. For example, the Competition Commissioner has a very important role that affects many countries.

Before the Commission can start its work, the entire group of Commissioners must be approved by the Parliament. Commissioners get help from their personal teams, called "cabinets." The Civil Service (the DGs) handles the technical work.

How Commissioners are Chosen

The Commission's meeting room on the 13th floor of the Berlaymont building.

First, the European Council suggests a candidate for President of the Commission. They consider the results of the latest parliamentary elections. Then, the European Parliament formally votes on this candidate. If the Parliament doesn't approve the candidate, the European Council must suggest another within one month.

After the President is chosen, and the High Representative is appointed, each Commissioner is nominated by their home country. This is done in talks with the Commission President, who decides their specific job. The President's suggested team of Commissioners then goes through hearings in the European Parliament. The Parliament questions them and then votes on the whole team. If the Parliament has concerns about a candidate, the President must either change their role or ask the country for a new candidate. Once the Parliament approves the team, the European Council formally appoints them.

After the team is appointed, the President chooses several Vice-Presidents from among the Commissioners. Vice-Presidents manage policy areas that involve many Commissioners. The High Representative is automatically one of the Vice-Presidents. The von der Leyen Commission also created "Executive Vice-Presidents." These are senior roles that manage the Commission's top priority areas.

How Commissioners Can Be Removed

The European Parliament can make the entire group of Commissioners resign. This requires a two-thirds vote of no-confidence.

Only the President can ask an individual Commissioner to resign. However, individual Commissioners can be forced to leave if they break their duties and the European Court of Justice rules against them.

How the Commission is Run

Androulla Vassiliou from Cyprus was the European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth from 2010 to 2014.

The Commission is divided into departments called Directorates-General (DGs). These are like government ministries. Each DG covers a specific policy area, such as agriculture or justice. They also handle internal services like human resources or translation. A Director-General leads each DG and reports to a Commissioner. A Commissioner's job might involve working with several DGs. They prepare ideas for the Commissioner, and if approved, these ideas go to the Parliament and Council.

The Commission's civil service is led by a Secretary General. This position is currently held by Ilze Juhansone.

Some people have criticized the DG structure. They say it can lead to different departments competing with each other. Also, DGs can have a lot of influence over a Commissioner.

In September 2012, the Commission reported that it employed 23,803 officials and temporary staff. Additionally, 9,230 "external staff" were employed. The largest DG is the Directorate-General for Translation, with 2,309 staff members. Most of the staff (17,664) are based in Belgium.

Talking to the Press

The Press Room in the Berlaymont building.

The Directorate-General Communication handles talking to the press. The Commission's main spokesperson is Eric Mamer. He holds daily press briefings, often called the "Midday Presser." This happens every weekday in the Commission's press room at the Berlaymont building. Journalists can ask questions to Commission officials and expect an official answer. This kind of open press briefing is quite unique.

The Spokesperson's Service helps the President and Commissioners communicate effectively. The chief spokesperson reports directly to the President on political communication matters.

It has been noted that the press releases from the Commission are very political. They often go through many drafts. This highlights the Commission's role and helps explain the EU and the Commission's work. This can make the releases longer and more complex. When many departments are involved, a press release can also show competition between different areas of the Commission. This also leads to a very high number of press releases.

Brussels has a larger group of journalists than Washington, D.C. In 2020, media outlets in every EU country had a Brussels correspondent. Even though there have been cuts in journalism worldwide, many news organizations feel they can cover the EU from official sources like press releases.

Important Initiatives

Fighting Terrorism

The European Commission has a plan to improve readiness against chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) security risks. This is part of its anti-terrorism efforts from October 2017. Europe has recently seen a higher risk of CBRN attacks. Because of this, the Commission's plan for readiness is very important. For the first time, the Commission said that medical readiness for CBRN attack threats is a top priority.

Where the Commission is Located

The main building of the European Commission in Brussels, called the Berlaymont.

The Commission's main political office is in Brussels. The President's office and the Commission's meeting room are on the 13th floor of the Berlaymont building. The Commission also works from many other buildings in Brussels and Luxembourg City. When the Parliament meets in Strasbourg, the Commissioners also meet there.

The Commissioners and their immediate teams are also based in the Berlaymont building in Brussels. The European Commission also has its own science facilities. These are located in Ispra, Italy; Petten, Netherlands; Karlsruhe, Germany; Geel, Belgium; and Seville, Spain. There is also a Commission site in Grange, County Meath, Ireland.

See also

In Spanish: Comisión Europea para niños

• European Free Trade Association Surveillance Authority
• List of European Commissioners by nationality
• EU Open Data Portal
• European Data Portal