The European Commission ( officially called the Commission of the European Communities ) is one of the five organizations that manage the European Union ( EU ) . This post , also a Vice-President of the Commission , would chair the Council of the European Union 's foreign affairs meetings as well as the Commission 's external relations duties . The treaty further provides that the most recent European elections should be `` taken into account '' when appointing the Commission , although the President is still proposed by the European Council ; the European Parliament would `` elect '' the Commission rather than `` approve '' it as under the Treaty of Nice .