The European Commission

Posted By Samuel Chan

The European Commission (EC) is the executive branch of the European Union.  It is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing EU policies, enforcing law (along with the Court of Justice) and representing the EU on the international stage.

The commission is composed of 27 members, one from each EU nation.  Known as commissioners, these members forswear their national allegiances, and pledge to act in the interest of the European Union alone.  Every five years, a new commission is appointed, and one of the members is chosen to be the President of the Commission.  The current President is José Manuel Durão Barroso, from Portugal.

The Commission is based in Brussels, Belgium, but also has offices in Luxembourg and representation in all EU member states.  Its working languages are English, French, and German.