European Commission

The European Commission is a European Union institution that has the right of initiative to propose laws for adoption by the European Parliament and the Council of the EU.

The Commission represents the interests of the EU as a whole.

Roles and responsibilities

In addition to drafting proposals for EU laws, the European Commission ensures that EU law is correctly applied by the member states, and manages the EU budget.

The term 'Commission' refers both to the 27 Commissioners who are each responsible for a specific EU policy field and to the institution itself. 

The Commissioners do not represent their home country's government and act solely in the interests of the EU.

European Commission and the euro area

The European Commission is central to economic policymaking for the euro area. In addition to its responsibility for legislative proposals, it plays a key role in economic surveillance procedures, monitors the economies of the member states and provides policy advice and  analytical input for economic policy discussions. The Commission (Eurostat) is responsible for the provision of the data used in economic surveillance procedures.

The Commission is part the Troika which outlines the conditions underpinning financial assistance to euro area member states and monitors its implementation. The other two Troika members are the International Monetary Fund and the European Central Bank.

The President of the European Commission takes part in the Euro Summit. 

The Vice-President, who is also the Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs, participates in Eurogroup meetings. 

The Director-General of the Commission's Directorate-General for Economic and Financial Affairs (known as ECFIN) is a member of the Eurogroup Working Group.