Directorate-General

Within the European Union, directorates-general are departments of the European Union government with specific zones of responsibility, the equivalent of ministries at a national level. Most are headed by a European Commissioner, responsible for the general direction of the directorate-general, and a Director-General, responsible for the management of day-to-day affairs

• The European Commission: Commission Directorates-General are each headed by a director-general, who reports to the European Commissioner in charge of (i.e. politically responsible for) the corresponding policy area;
• The Secretariat of the European Parliament: Parliament Directorates-General.
• The General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union: Council Directorates-general.

The European Patent Office (part of the European Patent Organisation, separate from the EU) also has Directorates-General, which are administrative groupings of departments.

Directorates-General of the European Commission

The Directorates-General of the European Commission are divided into four groups: Policy DGs, External relations DGs, General Service DGs and Internal Service DGs. Internally, the DGs are referred to by their abbreviations, provided below.

See also

• List of European Commission committees by Directorates-General
• European Civil Service
• Joint Research Centre (European Commission)
• Permanent Secretary
• Council of the European Union

References