The European Commission is the EU's executive. Its 27 members, one per member state, propose new EU laws, manage the budget, enforce EU law and negotiate trade agreements. Its President is proposed by national leaders and elected by the European Parliament.
- Seat
- Brussels
- Established
- 1958 as the EEC Commission (preceded by the ECSC High Authority, 1952); single Commission for the three Communities since 1967
- Members
- 27 members, one per member state: the President, six Executive Vice-Presidents, the High Representative/Vice-President and 19 Commissioners
- Head
- Ursula von der Leyen, President since 1 December 2019 (second term since 1 December 2024)
- Legal basis
- Article 17 TEU; Articles 234 and 244 to 250 TFEU
The European Commission is the institution that runs the EU day to day. It has four main roles. It proposes legislation: in most areas, the Parliament and the Council can only adopt an EU law if the Commission has first proposed it. It implements the budget and manages EU programmes. It enforces the rules, for example competition law and state aid control. And it acts as “guardian of the treaties”: if a member state does not apply EU law, the Commission can open an infringement procedure and, ultimately, take the country to the Court of Justice. It also negotiates trade agreements on behalf of the EU, under a mandate from the Council.
The College of Commissioners has 27 members, one per member state. Each is responsible for a policy area, but they decide collectively. Commissioners must be fully independent: they swear not to take instructions from any government.
The appointment takes several steps. After the European elections, the European Council proposes a candidate for President by qualified majority, “taking into account” the election results. The European Parliament then elects that candidate by a majority of its members. Member states propose the other Commissioners in agreement with the President-elect. Each candidate is questioned in a public hearing by a parliamentary committee, then the Parliament votes to approve the College as a whole, which the European Council formally appoints. The term is five years, in line with the Parliament’s.
Example
On 23 April 2025, the Commission imposed the first fines under the Digital Markets Act, the EU law on large online platforms: 500 million euros on Apple, for preventing app developers from steering users to cheaper offers outside its App Store, and 200 million euros on Meta, for its “consent or pay” advertising model. Apple has appealed the decision to the EU courts.
Debates and limits
Critics argue that the Commission holds significant power without being directly elected, and that its monopoly over legislative proposals gives unelected officials a strong influence on EU law. Supporters reply that the Commission is accountable to the elected Parliament: its President is elected by MEPs, the College needs their approval, and the Parliament can dismiss it.
That power of dismissal exists but has never been used successfully. A motion of censure needs a two-thirds majority of votes cast. On 10 July 2025, MEPs rejected a motion against the von der Leyen Commission by 175 votes in favour, 360 against and 18 abstentions. Further motions were rejected in October 2025 and January 2026.
The selection of the President is also debated. Since 2014, European political parties have named lead candidates (“Spitzenkandidaten”) before the elections, and the procedure was used again in 2024. Supporters say it links citizens’ votes to the choice of President. The treaties only say that the European Council must take the election results into account, so national leaders keep the right to propose someone else.