EUAgenturen

EUAgenturen are independent bodies of the European Union established to implement, monitor, and support the application of EU policy in specific sectors. They provide technical expertise, data collection and analysis, risk assessment, and enforcement support to EU institutions. Most EU agencies derive their mandate from Council regulations or EU treaties and possess legal personality. They are typically governed by an executive director and a management board, with professional independence in day-to-day matters while remaining accountable to EU institutions. They are funded from the EU budget and, in some cases, by fees or contributions from member states.

Their work centers on sector-specific tasks such as scientific assessment, standard setting, product authorization, regulatory supervision, and information services. Agencies may issue guidelines, maintain databases, disseminate data, and assist with inspections or the coordination of inspections.

Some of the best-known EU agencies include the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in Amsterdam, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in Parma, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) in Helsinki, the European Environment Agency (EEA) in Copenhagen, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) in Cologne, the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) in Alicante, the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA) in Athens, and the European Defence Agency (EDA) in Brussels. There are other agencies with different mandates across health, environment, safety, data protection, and security.

EU agencies operate in close relation to the European Commission, the European Parliament, and the Council. They are subject to oversight and audits, with performance evaluated through annual reports and the work of the Court of Auditors.