Legal Service

Responsibilities

Our mission is to advise and represent the Institution and in performing those tasks, to ensure that the law is respected, thereby contributing to upholding the rule of law. In particular, as a single, horizontal service, under the authority of the President, we:

• Provide independent legal advice to the Commission as a whole, in order to assist it to achieve its policy objectives. Taking the time to consider carefully all relevant elements of law and fact, and to listen to all points of view, we guide the institution as to the limits of, and opportunities provided, by the law, based on our best assessment of how the law is to be interpreted and applied;
• Represent the Institution before the EU, national and international courts and arbitration bodies. In so doing, we pursue the enforcement of EU law and defend measures attributable to the Commission and/or the European Union. We also assist the Court of Justice by presenting the Commission’s position in all preliminary reference procedures that are notified to the Commission. We inform judges and arbitrators as amicus curiae on relevant points of EU and international law,
• Provide advice to the Commission in its legislative and regulatory tasks seeking to ensure that all legal texts adopted by the Commission fully respect the Treaties and are drafted with the necessary legal clarity and in the interest of EU citizens.
   

Activities of the Legal Service

The Commission’s legal adviser

The Commission’s legal representative

Legal service documents

As part of the Commission's commitment to transparency, Commission staff holding management functions publish information on and minutes of all meetings they hold with interest representatives.