The European Commission, founded in 1958, is the executive branch of the European Union. Headquartered in Belgium, it employs approximately 34,050 people. Its primary function is government administration, representing the EU's overall interests independently of national governments. The Commission proposes legislation for approval by the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament, and manages the EU budget and policy programs across various sectors including agriculture, fisheries, and research, working in collaboration with member state authorities.
The European Commission approved the 19th package of European Union sanctions against Russia on Friday. The sanctions target banks, crypto assets, and energy imports. This follows a brief delay to coordinate with the United States. Separately, the Commission is considering tariffs on Russian oil imports via the Druzhba pipeline to decrease reliance on Russia. The Commission also published proposals for AgoraEU, a proposed replacement for the Creative Europe programme, which independent European producers have criticized in a joint statement as a risky change for independent audiovisual creation. Finally, the Commission noted that the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement reached 60 ratifications, triggering its entry into force in early 2026.
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