ABSTRACT
The European Commission (Commission) is one of the core institutions of the EU political system. It is headed by a president and 26 Commissioners (one for each member state) and structured into a number of services employing around 32,000 officials. The Commission interacts with other EU institutions and governments and administrations of the member states in decision-making and policy implementation. It holds a quasi-monopoly on the proposal of legislation and acts as a powerful agenda-setter. Furthermore, the Commission is endowed with monitoring and enforcement powers to ensure the implementation of commonly agreed mandates. These roles render the Commission a central actor in shaping the course and substance of European integration.
