Press conference by Jacques Barrot

Press conference by Jacques Barrot, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Justice, Freedom and Security, on the asylum support office

The European Commission is the executive body of the EU and runs its day-to-day business. It is made up of the College of Commissioners, 27 European Commissioners, one for each member state, who are each responsible for one or several policy areas. In addition, the 'Commission' also refers to the entire administrative body that supports the Commissioners, consisting of the Directorates-General and the Services.

The European Commission is the sole EU body capable of proposing new legislation. The Commission also performs an oversight function, monitoring whether European legislation is properly implemented in the member states. In the event of non-compliance, the Commission can coerce a member state to comply by starting a legal procedure at the European Court of Justice.

• 1. 

  Jacques Barrot (1937) was lid en vicepresident van de Europese Commissie. Van mei 2008 tot en met februari 2010 was hij belast met justitie, vrijheid en veiligheid. Daarvoor was hij (november 2004-mei 2008) belast met transport. Van april tot oktober 2004 was hij eurocommissaris voor regionaal beleid. Van 1974 tot 1981, en van 1995 tot 1997 was hij diverse malen lid van de Franse regering als minister en staatssecretaris. Van 2002 tot 2004 was hij voorzitter van Chirac's politieke Groep UMP in het Franse parlement.
   
• 2. 

  The European Commission is the executive body of the EU and runs its day-to-day business. It is made up of the College of Commissioners, 27 European Commissioners, one for each member state, who are each responsible for one or several policy areas. In addition, the 'Commission' also refers to the entire administrative body that supports the Commissioners, consisting of the Directorates-General and the Services.