European Union lawLesson 1 of 5 in the course EU institutions

European Commission: Composition, Powers, History, and Accountability

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

This lesson introduces the European Commission as an executive institution of the European Union and explains who serves in it and how its members take office. Understanding its composition helps distinguish the Commission from institutions that represent national governments or EU citizens.

The European Commission (EC) is the EU’s executive cabinet. It develops and carries out EU policies and has a central role in managing the Union’s work. It oversees a large administrative body of European civil servants. The source describes about 32,000 employees under its oversight; staffing figures can vary by date and by which categories of staff are counted.

All flashcards

What does the oath of office require of European Commissioners?
To act independently and serve the interests of the EU as a whole, not as delegates of their home governments.
What is a Directorate-General (DG)?
A Commission department focused on a policy area or internal service, headed by a director-general.
What is comitology?
A process involving committees of national representatives and others in preparing technical measures for implementing EU law.
What is distinctive about the High Representative/Vice-President (HR/VP)?
The High Representative is automatically a Commission vice-president and coordinates work related to EU external relations and defence cooperation.
What is the Commission’s right of legislative initiative?
Its distinctive role in making formal proposals for EU legislation.

Quiz questions

  1. What was the name of the European Coal and Steel Community’s supranational executive, established in 1951?Answer: The High Authority.
  2. Which treaty combined the three Community executives into a single administration in 1967?Answer: The Merger Treaty.
  3. In most EU policy areas, what must happen before a Commission legislative proposal becomes law?Answer: The Council and European Parliament must consider and approve it.
  4. What kind of action can the Commission support under the precautionary principle?Answer: Preventive action where a credible risk exists despite scientific uncertainty.
  5. In which external setting does the Commission represent the EU, while sharing external-relations responsibilities with other actors?Answer: Trade negotiations.

Based on the Wikipedia article European Commission, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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