European Commission

The European Commission is the executive arm of the European Union, responsible for proposing legislation, enforcing EU treaties, and managing the bloc's day-to-day policy agenda. It is headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, and operates as the EU's primary institution for translating political agreements among member states into binding law and regulation. Founded in its modern form when the Treaty of Rome took effect in 1958, the Commission grew out of the High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community, which was established in 1951.

Around 32,000 permanent and contract employees work in the Commission, including policy officers, researchers, lawyers and translators. The Commission has Representations in all EU Member States and 139 Delegations across the globe. A new team of 28 Commissioners (one from each EU Member State) is appointed every five years, with the current Commission's term of office running until 30 November 2029.

Current Leadership

Ursula von der Leyen has been the President of the European Commission since 2019 - the first ever woman in this post. After successfully leading the EU through challenging times, she was appointed by national leaders and elected by the European Parliament for a second 5-year term, and will be at the helm of the Commission until 2029.