The European Commission
SUMMARY OF:
Article 17 Treaty on European Union
Article 18 Treaty on European Union
Article 245 TFEU — role, composition, powers and functioning of the European Commission
Article 246 TFEU — role, composition, powers and functioning of the European Commission
Article 247 TFEU — role, composition, powers and functioning of the European Commission
Article 248 TFEU — role, composition, powers and functioning of the European Commission
Article 249 TFEU — role, composition, powers and functioning of the European Commission
Article 250 TFEU — role, composition, powers and functioning of the European Commission
WHAT IS THE AIM OF THESE TREATY ARTICLES?
They set out the role, composition, powers, appointment procedures and functioning of the European Commission, the EU’s executive branch.
KEY POINTS
Role
1. Proposes new laws — the Commission is the sole EU institution that formally presents laws for adoption by the European Parliament and the Council.
2. Manages EU policies and allocate EU funding — the Commission sets spending priorities along with the Council and the Parliament, and draws up and executes the annual budget.
3. Enforces EU law — together with the Court of Justice of the EU, the Commission ensures that EU law is applied properly in all EU countries.
4. Represents the EU internationally — speaks on behalf of all EU countries in international bodies (such as the World Trade Organisation — WTO).
Composition
The president
Appointment
Summary table
Treaty on European Union |
Role and composition of the Commission; appointment and powers of the President of the Commission |
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Treaty on European Union |
Appointment and powers of the HR/VP |
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Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union |
Functioning of the Commission |
MAIN DOCUMENTS
Consolidated version of the Treaty on European Union — Title III — Provisions on the institutions — Articles 17 and 18 (OJ C 202, 7.6.2016, pp. 26-27)
Consolidated version of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union — Part Six — Institutional and financial provisions — Title I — Institutional provisions — Chapter 1 — The institutions — Section 4 — The Commission — Articles 244, 245, 246, 247, 248, 249 and 250 (OJ C 202, 7.6.2016, pp. 155-157)
RELATED DOCUMENTS
European Council Decision 2013/272/EU of 22 May 2013 concerning the number of members of the European Commission (OJ L 165, 18.6.2013, p. 98)
last update 11.10.2017