Advisory Agencies

Agencies of the European Union

There are 4 types of Agencies: Community, Foreign and Security policy, Police and Judicial cooperation, and Executive agencies. Most of them have very specific areas of operation and tasks.

The current agencies are:
  • Community Fisheries Control Agency (CFCA)
  • Community Plant Variety Office (CPVO)
  • European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA)
  • European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders (FRONTEX)
  • European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)
  • European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)
  • European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop)
  • European Chemicals Agency (ECHA)
  • European Environment Agency (EEA)
  • European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)
  • European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (EUROFOUND)
  • European Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) - previously EUMC
  • European GNSS Supervisory Authority (GSA)
  • European Institute for Gender Equality (under preparation)
  • European Joint Undertaking for ITER and the Development of Fusion Energy (Fusion for Energy)
  • European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA)
  • European Medicines Agency (EMEA)
  • European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA)
  • European Network and Information Security Agency (ENISA) European Railway Agency (ERA)
  • European Training Foundation (ETF)
  • Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market (Trade Marks and Designs) (OHIM)
  • Translation Centre for the Bodies of the European Union (CdT)

Although the agencies are very different in size and purpose, they usually have a common basic structure and similar ways of operating. There is an executive director, with a management board that includes representatives of the member states, of the Commission and members appointed by the EU Parliament. Some boards have up to 80 members.

Technical or Scientific Committees made up of experts in the field also assist the agencies by drafting opinions on technical questions.

Most of the agencies are financed from the general budget of the European Union. 5 agencies are self-financed as they are able to charge fees.

The agencies are subject to the external control of the Court of Auditors.

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