directoraatgeneraal

Directoraat-generaal, often abbreviated DG, is a major organizational unit within a ministry or an international institution. In Dutch government and in the European Union, a directoraat-generaal is responsible for a defined policy area or set of related policies and programs, and is headed by a director-general (directeur-generaal).

In the European Union, DGs are the principal departments of the European Commission. Each DG covers a policy field such as competition, energy, or innovation; it drafts proposed legislation, implements EU policies and programs, administers budgets, and manages staff. DGs collaborate with other Commission services, the European Parliament and the Council, as well as with national authorities and international partners.

In national administrations, the DG is the top division within a ministry. It is typically subdivided into directorates-general, directorates or units and is led by a directeur-generaal or director-general who reports to the minister. The DG is responsible for policy development, policy coordination, administration and service delivery in its domain.

Leadership and structure: The Director-General is a senior civil servant with overall responsibility for policy direction, resource allocation, and performance. A DG usually includes a management team with deputy director-generals, directors and heads of directorates, who coordinate policy work, legislation drafting and implementation.

Functions include policy formulation, regulatory activity, program management, monitoring and evaluation, stakeholder consultation, and external relations. DGs ensure coherence across policies, translate political priorities into concrete programs, and supervise the execution of EU law or national regulations within their remit.