📋 Complete EU Institutional Map
European Parliament
European Council
Council of the EU
European Commission
Court of Justice of the EU
European Central Bank
Court of Auditors
Advisory Bodies:
EESC (Economic & Social Committee)
Committee of the Regions
Other Bodies:
European Investment Bank (EIB)
Euratom
European Ombudsman
EEAS
7 Formal EU Institutions (Art. 13 TEU)
Seat: Frankfurt, Germany
Conducts monetary policy for the eurozone (20 countries). Primary objective: price stability (inflation close to but below 2%). Independent of political influence. Sets interest rates, manages euro.
President: Christine Lagarde (since 2019). Governing Council = ECB Executive Board (6 members) + 20 national central bank governors.
Seat: Luxembourg
The EU's external auditor — checks that EU funds are raised and spent legally and efficiently. Publishes an annual report used by the EP for the budget discharge procedure. No judicial powers (despite the name).
Composition: 27 members (1 per member state). Term: 6 years. Members must be independent.
Seat: Luxembourg
The EU's long-term lending institution. Finances projects supporting EU objectives: infrastructure, SMEs, climate, innovation. Owned by member states. Not an EU institution but closely linked.
World's largest international public bank by lending volume. Also works through the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI).
Seat: Brussels
Advisory body representing employers, workers, and civil society. Must be consulted on economic and social matters. Issues opinions on legislative proposals — not binding but influential.
329 members from 27 member states (allocated by population). Three groups: Employers, Workers, Civil Society.
Seat: Brussels
Advisory body representing regional and local authorities. Must be consulted on matters affecting regions (cohesion, environment, transport, education). Can bring cases before the CJEU to defend the subsidiarity principle.
329 members — elected regional and local representatives (mayors, regional presidents, etc.).
Seat: Brussels + EU Delegations worldwide
The EU's diplomatic service, supporting the High Representative / VP. Manages ~140 EU Delegations and offices worldwide — the EU's embassies. Created by the Lisbon Treaty.
Staffed by EU officials and seconded national diplomats. EU Delegations have observer status in international organisations.
Seat: Brussels (shares institutions with the EU)
Created by the Treaty of Rome 1957. A separate community (not technically the EU) that coordinates nuclear energy research and supply. Uses the same institutions as the EU but has its own treaty.
All 27 EU member states are also Euratom members. Unlike the ECSC (expired 2002), Euratom has no expiry date.
Seat: Strasbourg
Investigates cases of maladministration by EU institutions and bodies. Any EU citizen, resident, company, or association can complain. Issues recommendations — no binding power, but strong moral authority.
Elected by the EP for 5 years. Current Ombudsman: Emily O'Reilly (Ireland). Does NOT handle complaints against member state authorities.
Price stability (ECB mandate)
The ECB's primary objective — keeping inflation close to but below 2% in the medium term in the euro area (Art. 127 TFEU).
Discharge (Court of Auditors)
The Court of Auditors' annual report feeds into the EP's budget discharge procedure — the EP's formal approval of how the Commission spent EU money.
Maladministration
Poor or failed administration — e.g. administrative irregularities, discrimination, abuse of power, failure to reply, refusal of information. Subject of Ombudsman investigations.
Advisory opinion
EESC and CoR issue opinions on legislative proposals. These are not binding but must be sought before certain decisions — failure to consult them can be grounds for annulment.