European Commission

The European Commission is the executive of the European Union and promotes its general interest.

The Commission is formed of numerous Departments and Executive agencies, including:

• Directorate-General CLIMA (DG CLIMA), for Climate Action. This Commission department is responsible for EU policy on climate action and it leads international climate negotiations for the EU.
• Directorate-General ENV (DG ENV), for Environment. This Commission department is responsible for EU policy on the environment. It proposes and implements policies that ensure a high level of environmental protection and preserve the quality of life of EU citizens.
• Directorate-General ECHO (DG ECHO), for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations. The main mission of the Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations is to preserve lives, prevent and alleviate human suffering and safeguard the integrity and dignity of populations affected by natural disasters and man-made crises. Headquartered in Brussels with a global network of field offices, DG ECHO ensures rapid and effective delivery of EU relief assistance.
• Directorate-General DEVCO (DG DEVCO), for International Cooperation and Development. The Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development is the Commission department responsible for EU policy on development and delivering international aid. It is in charge of international development cooperation, adapting to the evolving needs of partner countries, working closely with the department for neighbourhood policy and enlargement and other Commission services.
• Directorate-General JRC (DG JRC), for the Joint Research Centre​. The Joint Research Centre is the Commission's science and knowledge service. The JRC employs scientists to carry out research in order to provide independent scientific advice and support to EU policy.