European Commission guardian of treaties

The European Union (EU) has a system of institutions that work in collaboration with each other, undertaking the principles of safeguarding peace and promoting economic and social progress. The main institutions are the Council of the European Union -- often referred to as the Council of Ministers -- the European Commission, the European Parliament, the European Court of Justice and the Court of Auditors. Another "institution" is the European Council, which brings together the heads of state or government of the member states and the President of the European Commission.

The European Commission is the largest institution and acts as guardian of the treaties. It is an impartial body which sees to it that treaty provisions and decisions based on the treaties are correctly applied. The European Commission is also the catalyst of the Union. It has the sole right to initiate legislation, and it can exert its influence at every stage of a process leading up to the adoption of a new "European law".

Finally, the European Commission is the Union's executive body. This involves issuing rules for the implementation of certain treaty articles and administering budget appropriations earmarked for Union operations. The European Commission maintains a worldwide network of more than 100 external offices.

The European Commission and the Indonesian government agreed, in September 1988, to the establishment of a representation of the European Commission in Jakarta. The representation also represents the interests of the European Commission in Singapore and Brunei Darussalam and takes care of the cooperation with the ASEAN Secretariat.

Close collaboration with the embassies of the European Union member states is maintained by the representation in carrying out its works, especially with the presidency of the Council of the European Union, which rotates between the member states every six months.

The main functions of the representation are: to represent the European Commission as such; to act in matters for which the member states have transferred part of their sovereignty to the Union, for example trade policy; to monitor an extensive program of economic and development cooperation; and to provide information about the European Union.