European Commission
Composition
The current European Commission is composed of 27 members.
A new Commission is composed after the elections of the European Parliament.
The rules of composition have been changed several times:
- Before Nice Treaty: 2 commissioners were appointed by each of the bigger Member States + 1 by the other Member States.
- Nice Treaty: limited to no more than 1 per Member State on a rotation basis.
- Lisbon Treaty: number of commissioners needed to be limited to 2/3’s of the Member States.
- They envisaged a reduction.
But: the Irish had voted against the Lisbon Treaty in a first referendum for fear of losing their commissioner. They voted in favor in a second
referendum on several conditions.
One of their conditions were that the number of Commissioners be kept at the level of 1 per Member State.
- 2014: European Council decided that the European Commission will continue to be composed like before, under the Nice Treaty.
=> The envisaged reduction has not been realized until date. Therefore, a future Treaty change would have to regularize the current non-
conformity with the Lisbon Treaty.
Function:
- Completely independent position.
- In the general interest of the Union.
They can never be asked something or receive instructions of a specific government/any other body during their mandate.
Procedure
Mandate: 5 years, but they can be reappointed.
1. The European Council shall propose a candidate for the position of European Commission president to the European Parliament.
2. They will elect the new Commission President.
3. The chosen president shall, in consultation with the Member States, choose new commissioners which will be attributed a police area
by him.
, 4. The European Parliament must approve the composition, AFTER having held informal examination procedures (oral and written).
Now:
- German president (Ursula von der Leyen)
- Belgian commissioner for Justice (Didier Reynders)
- Swedish commissioner for Home Affairs (Ylva Johansson) => Her area of responsibility includes asylum and migration, security and the
future of Shengen.
Task and responsibilities
Legislative right of initiative Executive responsibilities Supervision and control Representation
Right of initiative: It’s the executive body for the - The Commission Responsibility to negotiate
- The Commission will entirety of EU policies. administers the budget of international agreements which
submit a proposal for the EU. concern the foreign policy of the
legislation to the Its role is mainly important when Under the supervision of the EU.
European Parliament + it concerns the policy domains of: European Court of Auditors.
the Council. - Competition - The Commission ensures Why: their function
- The European Parliament - Agriculture the correct compliance
and the Council will have - Research with European legislation
to reach an agreement. - Technological by the Member States.
development - They can start a first
Initially: procedure when a
Right of initiative belonged Member State
exclusively to the Member States breaches an
(Council). obligation.
Because of the - When this remains
intergovernmental background of without effect, the
the foreign affairs and security case can be
policy and policy domains of JHA. submitted to the ECJ.
They do this together with the
Amsterdam Treaty: European Court of Justice.
Composition
The current European Commission is composed of 27 members.
A new Commission is composed after the elections of the European Parliament.
The rules of composition have been changed several times:
- Before Nice Treaty: 2 commissioners were appointed by each of the bigger Member States + 1 by the other Member States.
- Nice Treaty: limited to no more than 1 per Member State on a rotation basis.
- Lisbon Treaty: number of commissioners needed to be limited to 2/3’s of the Member States.
- They envisaged a reduction.
But: the Irish had voted against the Lisbon Treaty in a first referendum for fear of losing their commissioner. They voted in favor in a second
referendum on several conditions.
One of their conditions were that the number of Commissioners be kept at the level of 1 per Member State.
- 2014: European Council decided that the European Commission will continue to be composed like before, under the Nice Treaty.
=> The envisaged reduction has not been realized until date. Therefore, a future Treaty change would have to regularize the current non-
conformity with the Lisbon Treaty.
Function:
- Completely independent position.
- In the general interest of the Union.
They can never be asked something or receive instructions of a specific government/any other body during their mandate.
Procedure
Mandate: 5 years, but they can be reappointed.
1. The European Council shall propose a candidate for the position of European Commission president to the European Parliament.
2. They will elect the new Commission President.
3. The chosen president shall, in consultation with the Member States, choose new commissioners which will be attributed a police area
by him.
, 4. The European Parliament must approve the composition, AFTER having held informal examination procedures (oral and written).
Now:
- German president (Ursula von der Leyen)
- Belgian commissioner for Justice (Didier Reynders)
- Swedish commissioner for Home Affairs (Ylva Johansson) => Her area of responsibility includes asylum and migration, security and the
future of Shengen.
Task and responsibilities
Legislative right of initiative Executive responsibilities Supervision and control Representation
Right of initiative: It’s the executive body for the - The Commission Responsibility to negotiate
- The Commission will entirety of EU policies. administers the budget of international agreements which
submit a proposal for the EU. concern the foreign policy of the
legislation to the Its role is mainly important when Under the supervision of the EU.
European Parliament + it concerns the policy domains of: European Court of Auditors.
the Council. - Competition - The Commission ensures Why: their function
- The European Parliament - Agriculture the correct compliance
and the Council will have - Research with European legislation
to reach an agreement. - Technological by the Member States.
development - They can start a first
Initially: procedure when a
Right of initiative belonged Member State
exclusively to the Member States breaches an
(Council). obligation.
Because of the - When this remains
intergovernmental background of without effect, the
the foreign affairs and security case can be
policy and policy domains of JHA. submitted to the ECJ.
They do this together with the
Amsterdam Treaty: European Court of Justice.
