europa

• Lamy hits back at Barroso on trade agreement

  World Trade Organisation Director-General Pascal Lamy has hit back at EU Commission President José Manuel Barroso’s claim that France was being protectionist… 19/06/2013

• Possible EU rift after Barroso calls French cultural exception ‘reactionary’

  Trade between the US and EU that could give each a boost of over 75 billion euros a year will be discussed in early July, but the audiovisual industry is off… 17/06/2013

• Romania to stay under EU ‘special monitoring’

  The European Commission rebuked Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta on Monday for failing to meet EU demands to uphold the rule of law and urged him to speed… 04/02/2013

• Green groups slam Commission on environment

  President Jose Manual Barroso, European Commission chief, has reached the half way stage of his second term of office. Along with Europe’s debt crisis… 06/07/2012

• New EU plan targets sustainable fisheries

  Sustainable fishing by 2015, that’s the aim this week of the EU Commission as it attempts to shake up the bloc’s much criticised Common Fisheries Policy… 12/07/2011

• EU workers’ unions: Commission’s proposal ‘quite unacceptable’

  The EU Commission has finally released the document on public servants regulation. Essentially it means a 5 percent reduction of staff between 2013 and… 30/06/2011

• EU chief says banks must help with Greek crisis

  The financial sector should play a bigger role in helping to resolve the Greek debt crisis, European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso said on… 21/06/2011

• Gloomy and rainy days in Brussels

  It is a crucial week for the EU and the euro. The Eurogroup decided to postpone their decision on how to avoid a disaster for Greece and the Eurozone. There… 20/06/2011

• Chernobyl needs costly new dome

  An extra 110 million euro donation for Chernobyl, to build a new containment structure… The promise from the European Union coincides with the opening this… 18/04/2011

• EU Commission chief Barroso live on euronews

  This Wednesday, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso is live on euronews to answer your questions. Barroso has been fairly explicit about what… 18/09/2012

• Europe’s economy new EU commission’s priority

  Steering Europe’s hardpressed economies out of dangerous waters will be the focus of the new EU commission after finally getting approval from the European… 10/02/2010

• What now for Turkey-EU relations?

  euronews asked a specialist in Europe-Turkey relations, Can Baydarol, for his reaction to the new European Commission. euronews: “Mister Baydarol, how is… 09/02/2010

• EP hands EC strong vote to steady EU

  The new European Commission has finally been given European Parliament clearance to begin work. Institutional infighting over political concessions and Lisbon… 09/02/2010

• Effigy of Fischer-Boel goes up in flames

  As the European Parliament welcomes in the new Commission team, outside the offices in Brussels of the outgoing Agriculture Commissioner Marianne… 09/02/2010

• New European Commission approved by EU Parliament

  Barroso II has been given the green light.   Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have approved the lineup of the new European Commission.   This clears… 09/02/2010

• Barroso talks to euronews on his second term

  The euronews Brussels correspondent, Sergio Cantone, asked President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso about his priorities for his second term… 08/02/2010

• Workings of the European Commission

  Headquartered in the Berlaymont building in Brussels, the European Commission acts as an executive of the European Union, like a supranational independent… 07/02/2010

• Barroso, centrist reformer and chameleon

  José Manuel Barroso, in his first five years in office as President of the European Commission, showed his power of political adaptability so often he was… 07/02/2010

• Commission less neo-liberal than before – expert

  Political expert Mario Telo, from the Institute for European Studies in Brussels, speaks to euronews about the European Commission-in-waiting. Sergio… 07/02/2010

• Commissioners must convince MEPs they can do the job

  To become a European Commissioner means sitting a test. The European Parliament has power of approval over the whole team, though individual rejections are… 07/02/2010

• Bulgarian ‘new’ commissioner concludes EP hearings

  Her first priority would be Haiti. New European Commissioner-designate Kristalina Georgieva has come through a hearing at the European Parliament earning a… 03/02/2010

• Bulgaria’s Jeleva pulls out of Commission running

  The Barroso II Commission must wait yet a little longer to see the light of day, after Bulgaria’s member designate in the European Union executive body threw… 19/01/2010

• Climate and farm Commissioners hammer home positions

  Denmark’s Connie Hedegaard, who struggled to chair the failed Copenhagen climate conference just a few weeks ago has said a lack of EU unity did not help. The… 15/01/2010

• Barnier reviewed for internal market, financial services top job

  Veteran French politician Michel Barnier, slated for the European Commission’s EU internal market portfolio, has also had his three-hour hearing in the… 13/01/2010

• Bulgaria’s choice of commissioner finds many MEPs wary

  The European Parliament’s Liberals, Socialists and Greens have shown themselves to be the most wary of Bulgaria’s nominee for commissioner, Rumiana… 12/01/2010

• MEPs question Commissioners’ competence one by one

  The European Parliament has begun confirmation hearings for the next European Commission. Britain’s Baroness Catherine Ashton was first to take the stand, to… 11/01/2010

The members of the Barroso Commission (2010-2014)

portugal

José Manuel Barroso President of the EU Commission

United Kingdom

Catherine
Ashton
Vice-President

 

High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

luxembourg

Viviane
Reding Vice-President

 

Justice, Fundamental
Rights and Citizenship

Spain

Joaquín Almunia Vice-President

 

Competition

Estonia

Siim
Kallas Vice-President

 

Transport

Netherlands

Neelie
Kroes Vice-President

 

Digital Agenda

Italy

Antonio
Tajani Vice-President

 

Industry and Entrepreneurship

Slovakia

Maroš
Šefcovic Vice-President

 

Inter-Institutional Relations and Administration

Slovenia

Janez Potocnik  

 

Environment

Finland

Olli
Rehn  

 

Economic and Monetary Affairs

Latvia

Andris Piebalgs  

 

Development

France

Michel
Barnier  

 

Internal Market and Services

Cyprus

Androulla Vassiliou  

 

Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth

Lithuania

Algirdas Šemeta  

 

Taxation and Customs Union, Audit and Anti-Fraud

Belgium

Karel
De Gucht  

 

Trade

Malta

John
Dalli  

 

Health and Consumer Policy

Ireland

Máire
Geoghegan-
Quinn  

 

Research, Innovation and Science

Poland

Janusz Lewandowski  

 

Budget and Financial Programming

Greece

Maria
Damanaki  

 

Maritime Affairs and Fisheries

Germany

Günther
Oettinger  

 

Energy

Austria

Johannes Hahn  

 

Regional Policy

Denmark

Connie
Hedegaard  

 

Climate Action

Czech Republic

Štefan
Füle  

 

Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy

Hungary

László
Andor  

 

Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion

Sweden

Cecilia
Malmström  

 

Home Affairs

Bulgaria

Kristalina
Georgieva  

 

International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response

Romania

Dacian
Cioloş  

 

Agriculture and Rural Development

The European Commission

The European Commission website

The Commission is the only executive body within the EU organisation. Its president is nominated by the member states subject to the approval of the European Parliament. The member states then subsequently nominate the other members of the Commission who are also subject to approval by the European Parliament.

The Commission is made up of 27 Commissioners, one from each EU member state. Commissioners are not tasked with representing their own country's interests but with proposing legislation for a policy area such as transport or energy.

The Commission operates on the principle of collective responsibility. If the European Parliament refuses to accept a nomination or chooses to sack a Commissioner, then the entire Commission has to go.

The Maastricht Treaty states that each Commission remains in place for a term of five years. This term can be renewed by the European Parliament.

According to the constitution of the Commission, the President allocates policy areas between the members of the Commission.

The Commission has 23 directorates covering general policy areas and 14 specialised services, like the Statistics Office or the Publications Office.

The Commission is central to the activities of the EU because it is the only body that can propose legislation. The Commission's proposals are then debated by the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers, which are the two decision-making bodies. Barring exceptional circumstances, decisions are taken by majority vote.

In producing proposed legislation, the Commission generally takes Member States' views into account. For more contentious proposals, the Commission can consult Member States' governments before continuing with a proposed directive, but may go ahead with a proposal whatever the result of this consultation.

As for foreign policy, the Commission is responsible for negotiating international agreements, which are then submitted to the Council for approval.

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