EUinstitutioner

EU institutions refer to the core bodies of the European Union that shape its laws, policies, and governance. They work together to draft, implement, and oversee EU rules across member states, currently 27 in total.

The principal decision-making and executive bodies are the European Commission, the European Parliament, and the Council of the European Union. The Commission acts as the executive arm, proposing legislation, implementing policies, and enforcing EU law. It represents the interests of the Union as a whole and is composed of commissioners from each member state. The European Parliament is directly elected by EU citizens and shares legislative and budgetary authority with the Council under the ordinary legislative procedure. It also exercises political supervision over the Commission. The Council of the European Union represents the governments of member states; its configuration changes with each policy area and presidency, and it negotiates and adopts laws together with the Parliament.

Key non-legislative bodies include the European Council, which gathers heads of state or government to set strategic directions, and the Court of Justice of the European Union, which interprets EU law and ensures its uniform application. The European Central Bank, responsible for monetary policy in the euro area, and the Court of Auditors, which audits EU finances, play central roles in economic governance and financial oversight. The European External Action Service coordinates the EU’s foreign policy and diplomacy.

Together, these institutions foster policymaking, democratic accountability, and financial integrity within the European Union.