European Commission


Also found in: Dictionary, Financial, Acronyms, Wikipedia.
Related to European Commission: European Parliament, European Council, European Union

European Commission

European Commission (EC), institution of the European Union (EU) invested with executive powers; it also is the main EU institution that initiates legislation. Located in Brussels, Belgium, it was founded in 1967 when the three treaty organizations comprising what was then the European Community were officially merged; previously, each organization was governed by a separate commission. The commission is composed of 27 members—one from each EU nation. Members are appointed by European Council and serve four-year terms; the commission membership must be approved by the European Parliament. One member serves as president and six serve as vice presidents. A large administrative staff, numbering some 25,000, is divided among many committees and administrative agencies. The commission implements the provisions of the EU's governing treaties and carries out legislation enacted by the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament.

In keeping with the objective of the founding treaties, the commission initiates EU policy on the economy in particular but, increasingly, also on environmental and foreign and security affairs. The legislation it proposes is subject to amendment and approval by the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union. It was under the presidency of Jacques Delors (1985–95) that the commission put forward the Single European Act (1987) and the Treaty of European Union (1992; also known as the Maastricht Treaty), both of which provided for a significant expansion of the EU's powers. In 1995, Jacques Santer of Belgium became president of the commission. The entire commission resigned in 1999 amid accusations of financial mismanagement, corruption, fraud, and nepotism, and a new set of commissioners, with Romano Prodi of Italy as president, was appointed later the same year. In 2004, José Manuel Barroso became president; Jean-Claude Juncker succeeded Barroso in 2014. Ursula von der Leyen became president in 2019.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia™ Copyright © 2022, Columbia University Press. Licensed from Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
Mentioned in ?
References in periodicals archive ?
The European Commission's acting secretary-general noted that some European Union member states are citing a shortage of women candidates for EU commissioner jobs.
Von der Leyen determined to achieve gender balance in EU Commission - Juhansone
The European Commission's emergency veterinary team has missions to countries affected by animal diseases.
The EC Sends Experts to Bulgaria Due to the African Swine Fever
Zvizdic clearly stated that EU integration was one of the two most important foreign policy goals of BiH and that the BiH Council of Ministers would continue to work on the implementation of the tasks set out in the European Commission Opinion.
ZvizdiA with COWEB reps: EC Opinion returns focus of EU to BiH
The European Commission announced that it is moving forward to a Phase 2 review of Vodafone's acquisition of Liberty Global's business in Germany, Hungary, Romania and the Czech Republic, the company said.
Liberty Global remarks on European Commission announcement
Oasmia Pharmaceutical AB (STO:OASM) announced on Thursday the grant of approval by the European Commission of Apealea for treatment of adult patients with first relapse of platinum-sensitive epithelial ovarian cancer, primary peritoneal cancer and fallopian tube cancer in combination with Carboplatin.
Oasmia Pharmaceutical announces approval receipt from European Commission for Apealea in the EU
According to a statement, in response to a budget extension request made by the CMP, the European Commission has confirmed to the three CMP Members in Brussels that an ad hoc extension had exceptionally been granted.
European Commission increases budget for missing persons
Celanese Corporation (CE) announced that it is abandoning its merger agreement with Blackstone's (BX) Rhodia Acetow business and that the two parties have withdrawn their notification of the proposed joint venture from the European Commission. The parties were unable to reach an agreement with the European Commission on acceptable conditions to allow the proposed joint venture to proceed.
Celanese drops merger pact with Blackstone's Rhodia Acetow business
The changes, proposed by the European Commission to the Visa Code of the Schengen zone, will not affect the cost of visa fees for Azerbaijani citizens, Ria Novosti reported.
European Commission not to raise visa fees for Azerbaijani citizens
Summary: London [U.K.], December 9 (ANI): The United Kingdom and the European Union have finally reached a breakthrough deal after the European Commission announced that "sufficient progress" has been made in the first phase of Brexit talks.
'Sufficient progress' made over Brexit talks, says European Commission
Estonia recognizes the need for the creation of a joint rescue capacity across the European Union, which the European Commission made a proposal about on Thursday, November 23, but at the same time the country foresees a number of obstacles.
Estonia sees various obstacles to creating EU-wide rescue capacity
The European Commission has ordered Apple, the world's largest company in terms of market value, to pay [euro]13 billion in back taxes and argues that Ireland's tax incentives extend an unfair advantage.
Apple Must Pay Billions For Tax Breaks In Ireland, EU Orders

Encyclopedia browser ?
Full browser ?