The European Commission, headquartered in Belgium, was founded in 1958 and employs approximately 34,050 individuals. Functioning as a body independent of national governments, the Commission represents and upholds the interests of the European Union as a whole. Its primary activities revolve around government administration, including preparing legislation for adoption by the Council (representing member countries) and the Parliament (representing citizens). Additionally, it administers the budget and various policy programmes, such as agriculture, fisheries, and research, in cooperation with authorities in the member countries.
On March 22, 2026, Irish TDs and senators criticized the European Commission's plans for a new European Competitiveness Fund, calling the proposed changes to funding mechanisms for environmental and biodiversity initiatives "deeply regressive" and "inherently contradictory." The Oireachtas climate committee expressed deep concerns regarding these proposals. Previously, on March 21, the European Commission urged EU member countries to lower their target for filling natural gas storage to 80% as early as possible in the filling season, down from the usual 90% goal. The Commission called on states to gradually begin filling their reserves and not to delay the process to alleviate price pressures and reduce demand. This followed the war in Iran, which impacted critical suppliers and caused energy prices to soar, with EU energy commissioner Dan Jorgensen sending a letter to provide certainty and reassurance to market participants.
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