European Union Institutions
European Parliament
The European Parliament - the only democratically elected international institution - has 626 Members who exercise democratic control at European level. Parliament helps to draft, amend and adopt European laws, and makes policy proposals.
European Commission
The Commission consists of 20 Commissioners, independent of national governments, and acts as a college. The Commission makes proposals for European legislation and action, and oversees the implementation of common policies.
Council
of the European Union
The Council of the European Union is made up of one minister for each Member State government and for each subject (for instance, the Council of Foreign Ministers is made up of the 15 Foreign Ministers). Council and Parliament adopt Community legislation, initially proposed by the Commission.
European
Council
The Heads of State or Government of the Member States, and the President of the Commission, meet at least twice a year in the European Council. The European Council decides broad policy lines for Community policy and for matters of foreign and security policy.
The
Court of Justice is the supreme court of the European Union. The Court
numbers 15 judges and 9 advocates-general.
Virtual Tour of the European Institutions in Brussels
