The single executive body formed in 1967 (as the Commission of the European Communities) from the three separate executive bodies of the European Coal and Steel Community, the European Atomic Energy Community, and the European Economic Community. It now consists of 30 Commissioners: two each from France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK; and one each from Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Sweden. Under the proposed EU Constitution membership will be reduced to one Commissioner per country, with further reductions planned from 2009. The Commissioners accept joint responsibility for their decisions, which are taken on the basis of a majority vote. The Commission initiates and implements EU legislation and mediates between member governments. The Commissioners are backed by a staff of some 20 000 civil servants.

• accounting package
• accounting period
• accounting principles
• accounting rate of return
• Accounting Standards Board
• account payee only
• accounts
• accounts payable
• accounts receivable
• accreting cap
• accreting swap
• accrual
• accruals concept
• accrued benefits
• accrued charge
• accrued income scheme
• accrued interest
• accumulated depreciation
• accumulated dividend
• accumulated profits
• accumulating shares
• accumulation
• accumulation area
• accumulation trust
• accumulation unit