Executive Functions

The Commission’s executive authority is found in five general areas: rule-making, direct implementation, supervision of member state implementation, guardian of EU law, and financial management. This chapter provides an overview of the Commission’s executive functions in each area, and asks: What is the nature of the functions? What is the Commission’s authority in respect of the functions? How are the functions exercised? In addressing these questions, the chapter sheds light on the tension between policy formulation and policy implementation, a classical dilemma for political executives and one that is manifest in how the Commission operates.