♤ European Parliament: directly elected Members of European Parliament (MEPs) represent

European citizens in the European Parliament (751 seats)

♤ Council of the EU: governments defend their own country's national interests in the Council of the European Union. It is a ministerial-level body. It conducts policymaking and coordinating functions as well as legislative functions.

♤ European Commission: the interests of the EU as a whole are promoted by the European Commission, whose members are appointed by national governments. At its head is a College of Commissioners comprised of 28 members (one from each member country) including the president; each commissioner is responsible for one or more policy areas. Its current president is Jean-Claude JUNCKER.