Einar H. Dyvik
Research expert covering Nordics and global data for society, economy, and politics
European Commission - statistics & facts
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. It implements EU legislation, manages the EU budget, and is the sole institution that can submit law proposals to the legislative bodies. The Commission also represents the EU in international organizations and negotiates agreements on matters under its competence. To carry out these duties, it is divided into almost 60 departments, called Directorates-General, each responsible for specific policy areas and led by a Commissioner. The large number of DGs may have contributed to the Commission's image as a symbol of European bureaucracy, fueling skepticism for empowering unelected officials in its top-jobs.
