The European Commission (“EC”) is the European Union’s politically independent executive arm. The EC is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the EU treaties and managing the day-to-day business of the EU. The President of the EC is nominated by leaders of member states and then elected by members of the European Parliament. The current president is Jean Claude Juncker who was appointed in 2014.One important role of the EC is to propose new legislation that will benefit all Europeans. This can include anything from rules regulating how much vacation employees are entitled to, to laws ensuring that food sold in supermarkets across Europe meets a certain standard quality control measures. Once proposed, this legislation goes through a process known as “co-decision making” where it is debated and amended by both the Council of Ministers (made up of representatives from each member state) and Members of Parliament (MEPs). If both bodies agree on a final version then it becomes law throughout all 28 member states.Another key responsibility for the EC is to manage day-to-day business within the EU – this includes everything from co-ordinating transport networks across different countries, to setting trade tariffs with other nations around world. One particularly important area that falls under this remit relates to monetary policy; for example, working together with national banks within Eurozone countries to ensure stable prices and economic growth within Europe as a whole.
