THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION
📍 Location: Brussels
🫂 Members: 27 Commissioners + 33 Directorates-General
👩🏼💼 President: Ursula von der Leyen
🗓️ Date of creation: 1958
🌐 Website
ROLE
The Commission is the executive branch of the European Union.
It promotes the general interest of the EU by proposing and enforcing legislation as well as by implementing policies and the EU budget.
But, what else?
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
📍 Location: Strasbourg, Brussels and Luxembourg
🫂 Members: 705 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs)
720 in the next EU elections!
👩🏼💼 President: Roberta Metsola
🗓️ Date of creation: 1952 as Common Assembly of the European Coal and Steel Community, 1962 as European Parliament
🌐 Website
ROLE
The European Parliament is the legislative branch of the European Union, together with the Council of the EU, they are co-legislators. Its members are directly elected by EU citizens every 5 years. The next elections will be held on 6-9th June 2024!
But, what else?
THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL
📍 Location: Brussels
🫂 Members: Heads of state or government of EU countries + European Council President + European Commission President
👩🏼💼 President: Charles Michel
🗓️ Date of creation: 1974 (informal forum), 1992 (formal status), 2009 (official EU institution)
ROLE
The European Council (also known as EUCO) brings together EU leaders to set the EU's political agenda. It's the highest political entity of the European Union.
COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
📍 Location: Brussels
🫂 Members: Representatives of each EU member state at ministerial level (so either ministers or State secretaries), grouped by policy area
🗓️ Date of creation: 1958 (as Council of the European Economic Community)
ROLE
The Council of the European Union is the voice of EU member governments, it adopts EU laws and coordinates EU policies.
