EUROPEAN COMMISSION

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

Subject : International Organisations

Context :  European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen urged the Biden administration to join forces against “the darker sides of the digital world,” which she said was partly behind the “shock” storming of Capitol Hill on January 6.

Concept :

• It is an executive body of the European Union, responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the EU treaties and managing the day-to-day business of the EU.
• The Commission operates as a cabinet government, with 28 members of the Commission. There is one member per member state.
• These members are proposed by member countries and European Parliament gives final approval on them.
• One of the 28 members is the Commission President proposed by the European Council and elected by the European Parliament.
• The Commission is divided into departments known as Directorates-General (DGs) that can be likened to departments or ministries is headed by a director-general who is responsible to a commissioner.
• High Representative (HR) of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy is appointed by the European Council by voting and the President of the EC must be in agreement with the decision.
• HR is charged with shaping and carrying out the EU’s foreign, security and defence policies.