Institutions and bodies of the European Union

• EU institutions and other bodies explained
  Overview explaining the institutions’ differing political and administrative functions
• EU institutions’ websites
  
• European Parliament
  Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are directly elected by EU voters every five years
• Council of the European Union
  National ministers meet to discuss and – together with Parliament – adopt EU laws
• European Commission
  Appointed Commissioners and the EU’s civil service. The Commission proposes EU legislation and checks it is properly applied across the EU. Works in the interests of the EU as a whole.
• Court of Justice of the European Communities
  EU law courts
• European Court of Auditors
  Reviews the financing of the EU’s activities
• European Ombudsman
  Investigates complaints about maladministration by EU institutions and bodies
• European Data Protection Supervisor
  Supervises data protection in EU institutions and bodies and advises on data protection legislation
• Financial bodies
  
• European Central Bank
  Responsible for European monetary policy
• European Investment Bank
  Arranges financing for EU investment projects
• European Investment Fund
  Help for small businesses
• Advisory bodies
  
• European Economic and Social Committee
  Represents civil society, employers and employees
• Committee of the Regions
  Representation for regional and local authorities
• Interinstitutional bodies
  
• Publications Office of the European Union
  Publishes EU documentation
• A job with the EU - EPSO
  Recruitment of staff for the EU institutions and other bodies
• European Administrative School
  Core training for EU staff
• EU agencies
  
• Common foreign and security policy
  Agencies set up to carry out specific technical, scientific and management tasks
• Police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters
  Helps EU member countries co-operate in the fight against organised international crime
• Other policy areas
  'Community’ agencies
• Executive agencies
  Set up to manage EU programmes
• EURATOM agencies and bodies
  Created to support the aims of the European Atomic Energy Community
• European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT)
  Pools the best scientific, business and education resources to boost the Union's innovation capacity
• Law-making in the EU
  Explains what roles the main institutions play in legislative decision-making

See also

• Working for the European Union  
• Basic information on the European Union