EU Institutions and Committees

Institutions

The three policy and decision-making institutions of the European Union are:

• The Council of the European Union (also called the Council of Ministers, or "the Council").
• The Commission.
• The European Parliament.

  The Council	The Commission	The European Parliament

Another institution of major importance in the history of the European Community and in today's European Union is the European Court of Justice (ECJ). In addition, the European Central Bank (ECB) has emerged as major European institution since the creation of a single European currency (the EURO).

Committees

Two other institutions occupying a secondary role have become important centers of discussion and initiative for their respective policy areas. These are the European Economic and Social Committee, and the Committee of the Regions.