European Commission

The European Commission upholds the general interest of the European Union and is the driving force in the EU's institutional system. Its four main roles are to propose legislation to Parliament and the Council, to administer and implement Community policies, to enforce Community law (jointly with the Court of Justice) and to negotiate international agreements, mainly those relating to trade and cooperation.

EU's Barroso made to wait on re-election vote — 03 July 2009, 19:56 CET

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso will have to wait until later this year to find out if he keeps his job, Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt said on Friday.

Immigration threat to Greek democracy: Commissioner — 02 July 2009, 17:12 CET

A huge flow of migrants through Turkey could threaten social unrest in Greece, EU Justice Commissioner Jacques Barrot warned on Thursday.

EU's Barroso dismisses 'liberal' criticism — 01 July 2009, 16:40 CET

European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso, who is seeking a second five-year term, fended off criticism on Wednesday that he is too market friendly, insisting he was not a "liberal".

EU confident of treaty ratification after court ruling — 30 June 2009, 18:40 CET

European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso expressed confidence Tuesday that the EU's reform treaty would be ratified across the bloc by autumn, despite a German court ruling suspending the process there.

EU's Barroso confident of treaty ratification after court ruling — 30 June 2009, 13:26 CET

European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso expressed confidence Tuesday that the EU's reform treaty would be ratified across the bloc by autumn, following a court ruling in Germany.

EU set to unblock bailout cash for Latvia — 26 June 2009, 23:57 CET

The European Commission will hand cash-strapped Latvia the second instalment of a stalled bailout package in the coming weeks, after approval by member states' experts, a spokesperson said Friday.

Poland picks candidate for EU regional commissioner — 26 June 2009, 17:39 CET

Poland's government on Friday said it had picked Pawel Samecki, a senior official from the Polish central bank, to replace Danuta Hubner as the EU's Commissioner for Regional Policy.

Poland PM demands equal treatment on EU deficits — 24 June 2009, 16:47 CET

Long-standing European Union members and the bloc's newcomers must be treated equally by Brussels over rules restricting their public deficits, Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Wednesday.

Lithuanian parliament endorses new EU Budget Commissioner — 23 June 2009, 23:44 CET

Lithuanian lawmakers Tuesday formally approved Finance Minister Algirdas Gediminas Semeta to replace the Baltic state's president-elect as the European Union's budget chief.

Former EU Commissioner Van Miert dies after fall: media — 23 June 2009, 12:10 CET

Former European Commissioner Karel Van Miert, once one of the EU's most powerful figures as the head of competition services, died on Tuesday after an accident, Belgian media reported.

EU Commissioner urges Belarus to democratise — 22 June 2009, 23:28 CET

Belarus needs to democratise if it wants closer ties with the West, a top European Union official told the country's leader, President Alexander Lukashenko, during a landmark visit to the country on Monday.

Lithuania government picks candidate for EU budget post — 22 June 2009, 13:05 CET

Lithuania's government on Monday approved the candidature of its current Finance Minister Algirdas Gediminas Semeta as EU budget chief to replace the Baltic state's president-elect in the post.

EU's Barroso confident of Irish 'yes' in second treaty vote — 19 June 2009, 20:00 CET

European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso voiced confidence Friday that Irish voters would back the EU's Lisbon Treaty in a second referendum after Dublin secured guarantees on sovereignty.

EU leaders back Commission chief for new term — 19 June 2009, 11:05 CET

EU leaders gave their backing Thursday to Jose Manuel Barroso to head the bloc's executive body for a second term but his nomination still faces a major hurdle at the European Parliament.

EU Socialists oppose bid to reappoint Barroso — 18 June 2009, 18:12 CET

The head of the Socialist group in the European parliament on Thursday said they would not back EU Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso's re-election.

Barroso sets out vision of big, protective EU — 18 June 2009, 12:16 CET

EU commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso, who is seeking a second term, on Thursday laid out his vision for a protective, all encompassing continental project as he declared the need for "more Europe".

EU to grant Ireland reform guarantees, back Barroso — 18 June 2009, 14:06 CET

EU leaders chart out the bloc's future at a summit from Thursday by granting Ireland guarantees on the stalled Lisbon treaty, backing Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso for a second term and endorsing tougher financial regulation.

Summit set to back Barroso's bid for second term at EU helm — 17 June 2009, 20:06 CET

EU leaders are set to back Jose Manuel Barroso's bid for a second term as EU Commission chief, at a summit starting Thursday, though hurdles remain, European sources said Wednesday.

EU summit focus on Europe's top job, Irish vote guarantees — 17 June 2009, 11:44 CET

EU leaders debate Thursday the future of the European Union's most high-profile post and what guarantees to give Ireland to ensure its voters back a vast package of reforms in a new referendum.

EU's Barroso urges urgent action to revive banks — 16 June 2009, 23:58 CET

European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso called on Tuesday for urgent action to clean up banks' balance sheets amid mounting concerns over rising credit losses in Europe.

EU 'very concerned' by Iran unrest, insists on right to protest — 16 June 2009, 13:33 CET

The European Commission expressed serious concern Tuesday over reports of deaths in election-linked violence in Iran and called on Tehran to respect the people's right to protest.

Poland seeking key EU economic post — 16 June 2009, 13:34 CET

Poland, the biggest hitter among the EU's 2004 intake, put its hat in the ring Tuesday for a plum economic post in the next European Commission.

Europe's top job up for grabs at EU summit — 16 June 2009, 12:31 CET

The future of the European Union's most high-profile post will be decided this week when EU leaders debate the nomination of Jose Manuel Barroso as the next European Commission president.

Barroso, the EU chameleon — 16 June 2009, 12:29 CET

Jose Manuel Barroso, who is almost certain to get a second term as European Commission president this week, has become a master of adapting to circumstances and rubbing leaders the right way.

Lithuania may keep top EU budget post — 15 June 2009, 20:49 CET

Lithuanian president-elect Dalia Grybauskaite said Monday that Finance Minister Algirdas Semeta is being considered as her successor to become EU budget commissioner.