Community agencies are distinctive from the governmental and judicial institutions. These agencies are structured to address very specific tasks in specific fields. The community agencies were appointed by acts of secondary legislation. For more on the history of the agencies, see this page on Europa, the official EU web site.

Present and Past European Union Community agencies:

• Cedefop (European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training)

• EUROFOUND (European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions)

• EEA (European Environment Agency)

• ETF (European Training Foundation)

• EMCDDA (European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction)

• EMEA (European Medicines Agency)

• OHIM (Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market (Trade Marks and Designs))

• EU-OSHA (European Agency for Safety and Health at Work)

• CPVO (Community Plant Variety Office)

• CdT (Translation Centre for the Bodies of the European Union)

• FRA (European Agency for Fundamental Rights, formerly the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia)

• EAR (European Agency for Reconstruction, closed 2008)

• EFSA (European Food Safety Authority)

• EMSA (European Maritime Safety Agency)

• EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency)

• ENISA (European Network and Information Security Agency)

• CFCA (Community Fisheries Control Agency)

• ECDC (European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control)

• ECHA (European Chemicals Agency)

• EIGE (European Institute for Gender Equality)

• ERA (European Railway Agency)

• FRONTEX (European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders)

• GSA (European GNSS Supervisory Authority)

European Central Bank

Under the Treaty on European Union, the European Central Bank was set up in 1998 to introduce and manage the official EU currency, the euro. As it now stands, twelve of the twenty-five member-states have adopted the euro as their official currency. The ECB is responsible for conducting foreign exchange operations and ensuring the smooth operation of payment systems. The ECB also decides on the framing and implementing the EU’s economic and monetary policy. Another vital function of the ECB is to maintain price stability in the nations using the euro, in order to preserve the euro’s purchasing power. That means strict control of inflation. Controlling the money supply involves, among other things, setting interest rates throughout the European Union countries using the euro.

• Central Bank Functions: Europa’s description of bank activities

• Publications of the ECB (includes Annual Report, Legal Documents, Monthly Bulletins, Press Releases and Key Speeches, and Working Papers)

European Investment Bank

About the EIB

This is the European Union’s financing institution. The main task of the European Investment Bank is to contribute toward integration, balanced development, and economic and social cohesion of the Member States.

• Europa’s Description of Investment Bank Functions

• EIB Publications: including Background Notes, Country Fact Sheets, Economic Reports, EIB Information Bulletin, Technical Studies

Court of Auditors

The Court of Auditors acts as the financial watchdog for the European Community by overseeing the correct handling of expenditures and revenue.

• The Annual Report is the most important document issued by the court of auditors.

Europol

The official law enforcement body of the EU. Its purpose is to improve the effectiveness and cooperation of the Member States’ respective policing agencies in order to combat organized crime, drug enforcement, and terrorism occuring internationally within the Union. Europol is accountable to the Council of Ministers for Justice and Home Affairs, which in turn is under the Council of the European Union.

• About Europol

• Organizational Chart

• Fact Sheet

• Publications: Includes annual reports, special reports assesment overviews

• Press Releases

European Ombudsman

Functions as a investigative officer concerning complaints of maladministration by the official institutions and bodies of the European Union. The Ombudsman may also take initiative and open an investigation without waiting first on a public complaint. The exceptions to the Ombudsman jurisdiction are the judicial rulings of the Courts of Justice and the General Court.

• Annual Reports of the Ombudsman

• Special Reports: These reports often occur during the drafting of legislation or on the Ombudsman’s own initiative.

• Interactive Complaint Form: The Ombudsman will examine your complaint, and you will be informed of the outcome of the investigation.

• Code on Good Administrative Behavior

• Decisions and Draft Recommendations: Searchable by case number, date, institution, and several other options.

• Speeches, Letters and Notes, and Press Releases

European Committee of the Regions (CoR)

Advisory body representing Europe's regional and local authorities. Composed of locally and regionally elected members from all EU countries.

European Data Protection Board (EDPB)

Ensures that the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Law Enforcement Directive are consistently applied in member countries as well as Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein.

European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS)

Ensures that EU institutions and bodies respect privacy rights when processing people's personal data.

European External Access Service (EEAS)

Manages diplomatic relations between the EU and countries outside the bloc; conducts EU foreign and security policy.

European Ombudsman

Investigates complaints against EU institutions, bodies, offices, and agencies.