Access to European Union law
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Access to European Union law

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Glossary of summaries

European Union agencies

European Union (EU) agencies are bodies that are distinct from the EU institutions. They are set up to carry out specific technical, scientific or administrative tasks. They may be divided into four groups:

  • 1.

    Decentralised agencies are bodies created by secondary law to manage specific technical, scientific or managerial tasks. They have their own legal personalities, are set up for an indefinite period and are located across the EU. They contribute to the implementation of EU policies and support cooperation between the EU and national governments by pooling technical and specialist expertise and knowledge from both the EU institutions and national authorities. There are currently over 30 decentralised agencies. Examples include the European Medicines Agency and the European Union Agency for Asylum.

  • 2.

    Executive agencies help the European Commission manage specific tasks associated with EU programmes. They are set up for a fixed period of time and are all based in Brussels. There are six executive agencies, including the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA), which manages Commission programmes contributing to decarbonisation and sustainable growth, and the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA), which manages funding for education (such as Erasmus+), culture, audiovisual, sport, citizenship and volunteering.

  • 3.

    Common foreign and security policy (CFSP) agencies help to implement the EU’s common foreign and security policy, including its common security and defence policy, and other aspects of EU external action. There are three such agencies: the European Defence Agency, the European Union Institute for Security Studies and the European Union Satellite Centre.

  • 4.

    European Atomic Energy Community Treaty (EURATOM) agencies were created to coordinate national nuclear research programmes for peaceful purposes; to provide knowledge, infrastructure and funding for nuclear energy; and to ensure sufficient and secure supplies of nuclear energy. The two agencies in this grouping are the Euratom Supply Agency and the Fusion for Energy Joint Undertaking.

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