Legal services
The Commission and the Council both run a legal service providing EU decision-makers with legal advice. These services influence all proposals for laws and make thousands of legal notes every year. The legal notes are not made public nor are they accessible by MPs and MEPs.
Notes
The Commission legal service is headed by Spanish Luis Romero Requena who was the director general for budget. Until 2008 the legal service was headed by Michel Petite, former Chief of Cabinet for Romano Prodi.
The Council legal service is headed by a French civil servant, Jean-Claude Piris.
The European Parliament has a smaller legal service headed by French Chiristian Pennera, who is called the Jurisconsult.
Links
European Commission Legal Service: http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/legal_service/index_en.htm
The legal service of the European Parliament http://www.europarl.europa.eu/......mp;pageRank=13&language=EN
