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The Commission is the largest executive body of the European Union, employing over 16,000 civil servants, and is the source of all legislation relevant to the functioning of the European Community. The EC Treaty assigns the Commission a wide range of tasks: according to Article 211 EC, its main powers are those of supervision, initiative and implementation. Of these three roles, the Commission's power to initiative legislation is considered to be its most important and influential.
In its supervisory role, the Commission is given executive powers by the Treaty and by the Council in order to secure the implementation of subsequent secondary legislation, collectively known as the acquis communautaire. The secretariat general is responsible, inter alia, for the daily tracking of the implementation of legislation in the Member States. In an annual report, published by the Commission, details on the level of implemention are given. Infringements on the provisions of these texts are vigorously acted upon in order to ensure their correct interpretation and implementation.
In a case of improper implementation or failure to implement, the Commission may decide to enforce correct implementation by bringing the Member State before the European Court of Justice. In such cases, the Commission may investigate either on its own initiative or as a result of a complaint. If a Member State does not react to the Commission's 'reasoned opinion' on the disputed subject, the Commission may refer the case to the Court of Justice, in order to gain a judgement which is binding for both parties. In addition, a great deal of Community law is 'directly applicable', which means that presumed infringements in a number of areas can be directly referred to national courts by individuals.
The EC Treaty is a 'framework' agreement which sets objectives and defines general guidelines, leaving the Commission to propose concrete measures (secondary legislation). Thus the Commission in its role as initiator must put froward proposals to the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament for specific measures for the development of Community policies. In doing this, the Commission must defend Community interests and should not interfere in responsibilities that are well taken care of at national level and that do not impede the major objectives of the Community, i.e. an open internal market and free movement for goods, citizens and (financial) services).
In addition, the Commission is responsible for administering the Community's public expenditure and its major funds. This requires that the Commission becomes involved in the management of the structural funds, allowing it, for example, to undertake Community measures aimed at promoting research and development. Both the promotion of economic and social cohesion and research and technological development are Community objectives under the Single European Act and the Maastricht Treaty. Multi-annual framework programs are set up by the Commission which define Community priorities in these fields.
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