European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly-elected body of the European Union: its 785 Members (MEPs) are elected every five years by citizens across the 27 Member States of the European Union. Its work is organised through a system of specialised committees who draw up reports and amend and adopt legislative proposals, for example on environmental protection, consumer rights, equal opportunities, and the free movement of workers, capital, services and goods. In many policy areas, decisions on new European laws are made jointly by Parliament and the Council of Ministers, which represents Member States.
Council of the European Union
The Council is the main decision-making institution of the European Union. It is often informally called the Council of Ministers as it is composed of ministers of the Members States. Depending on the issue on the agenda, each country will be represented by the minister responsible for that subject (foreign affairs, finance, social affairs, health, etc.).
- EPSCO Council
The Council of the European Union and the European Parliament are the two legislative chambers of the European Union. In some areas the Council is superior to the Parliament, having only to consult to get assent from the institution. In many areas, however, the two bodies are equal in power.
The Council of the European Union is presided for a period of six months (January-June and July-December) by each Member State in turn, in accordance with a pre-established rota. The Council of the European Union should not be confused with the European Council (an assembly of EU heads of state or government) nor with the Council of Europe (a non-EU organisation of 47 states).
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive branch of the European Union. The institution is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the European Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union. The Commission operates in the method of cabinet government, with 27 Commissioners.
The institution includes the administrative body of about 25,000 European civil servants who are split into departments called Directorates-General and Services, which are based in Brussels.
- DG Sanco