Directorate-General


Within the European Union, directorates-general are departments of the European Union government with specific zones of responsibility, the equivalent of ministries at a national level. Most are headed by a European Commissioner, responsible for the general direction of the directorate-general, and a Director-General, responsible for the management of day-to-day affairs
The European Patent Office also has Directorates-General, which are administrative groupings of departments.

Directorates-General of the European Commission

The Directorates-General of the European Commission are divided into four groups: Policy DGs, External relations DGs, General Service DGs and Internal Service DGs. Internally, the DGs are referred to by their abbreviations, provided below.