Composition of the European Commission

The European Commission is composed of the College of Commissioners, with one member from each of the 27 European Union (EU) Member States. Each Commissioner is responsible for a portfolio assigned to them by the Commission’s President.

Article 17(5) of the Treaty on European Union states that the Commission must be made up of a number of members corresponding to two thirds of the number of Member States from 1 November 2014. However, it also allows the European Council to decide unanimously to change that number. In 2013, the European Council adopted Decision 2013/272/EU, ensuring that the number of members of the Commission would correspond to the number of Member States, so that each of them would be entitled to nominate a member of the Commission.

The Commission is supported by its staff, which is responsible for running the day-to-day business. It is organised into departments known as Directorates-General, each responsible for a specific policy area or service.

SEE ALSO

• European Commission
• European Parliament
• President of the European Commission
• Weighting of votes in the Council
• The College of Commissioners (summary)
• The European Commission (summary)
• About the European Commission – website (European Commission)
• The Commissioners – website (European Commission).