President of the European Commission
The president of the European Commission is the head of the European Commission, the executive branch of the European Union (EU). The president of the Commission leads a cabinet of Commissioners, referred to as the College. The president is empowered to allocate portfolios among, reshuffle, or dismiss Commissioners as necessary. The College directs the commission's civil service, sets the policy agenda and determines the legislative proposals it produces. The commission is the only body that can propose or draft bills to become EU laws.
President of the European Commission
Headquarters of the European Commission in Brussels (Berlaymont building)
Walter Hallstein, the first president of the Commission
President Mansholt opened the first enlargement talks with Denmark, Ireland, Norway and the United Kingdom
The European Commission (EC) is part of the executive of the European Union (EU). It operates as a cabinet government, with 27 members of the Commission headed by a President. It includes an administrative body of about 32,000 European civil servants. The commission is divided into departments known as Directorates-General (DGs) that can be likened to departments or ministries each headed by a Director-General who is responsible to a Commissioner.
The Berlaymont building, seat of the European Commission
Walter Hallstein, the first President of the Commission
Incumbent President von der Leyen
Floor 13 of the Berlaymont, Commission's meeting room