The European Commission is the EU’s politically independent executive body. Its main roles include:

• proposing new laws and policies
• monitoring their implementation
• managing and allocating the EU budget

The Commission also ensures that EU policies and laws are correctly applied across Member States, negotiates international agreements on behalf of the EU, and allocates funding.

Additionally, it represents the interests of the EU on the global stage, ensuring a coordinated approach among EU countries.

Political leadership

A College of 27 Commissioners (one from each EU country), led by the Commission President, steers the Commission’s work. The list of nominees are approved by national leaders in the European Council.

The Commissioners work on specific policy priorities that are set out by the Commission President, and the day-to-day running business is performed by its staff organised into Directorates-General (DGs), each responsible for a specific policy area.