Is the European Commission more or less powerful than it should be?

Extraits

[...] The trend is to more democracy within the European Union generally speaking, and within the Commission, more specifically. For instance, the nomination of the commissionners is subjet to the approval of the European Parliament. Moreover, say that the Commission has too much power is to misunderstand completly the processus of policy-making within the European Union and which consists of a permanent bargaining between the three main institutions ( Commission, Parliament and Council ) : in no way does the Commission impose its views on anyone. [...]

[...] ) It is also the Commission which negotiates accession treaties The Commission also has an important role in the budgetary field, in making and giving effect to the budgets adopted by the European parliament. It administers the European Development Fund, the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund, and the European Regional Development Fund. The work of the Commission is divided into separate policy areas in much the same way as at national level governemental responsibilities are divided between ministries. Thus, the Commission's basic units of organization are its Directorates General. The size and internal organization of DGs varies. [...]

[...] It can thus be aked whether the Commission has the means to carry out the large responsabilities it is granted. Besides all these technical imperfections , the Commission also lacks of popular support and it is not rare to see politicians blame the Commission for all the problems encountered by the countries : it is thus quite clearly shown as a "scapegoat". In conclusion it can be said that the Commissions's task is certainly the most difficult and most frustrating task that an institution can be faced to. [...]

[...] Besides, political consideration can inhibit the Commission from acting as vigorously as it could in some problem areas or particular cases. The Commission will try to avoid to politically embarrass member states if possible The Commission's means and the lack of popular support The Commission has much less power than its detractors often suggest, it is not a decision-making body ( this is the role of the Council and its powers are being reduced as those of the other EU institutions ( EP mainly ) grow. [...]

[...] Located in Brussels, the Commission is actually entitled with five main and complementary goals : 1. It engages in rule making, especially under the ECSC Treaty, but also under the EEC Treaty. It means that a lot of regulations, directives, and decisions are adopted by the Commission. Moreover, within different policy areas, the Council has delegated important rule-making powers to the Commission. This, for instance, is the case within the Common Agricultural Policy, where the Commission adopts hundreds of regulations each year The Commission also has to ensure that European rules and laws are respected. [...]