Directorate General (DG) is an administrative unit of the Commission. The Commission is divided into about 30 DGs (and comparable services) of which many are relevant for the cooperation with the Western Balkans. DGs are classified according to the policy they deal with.

Several of them are involved in the management of activities related to research and innovation, e.g. DG Research and Innovation (RTD), DG Communications Networks, Content and Technology (CNCT), DG GROW on Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, DG Energy (ENER), DG Mobility and Transport (MOVE), DG AGRI on Agriculture and Rural Development.

Furthermore, DG NEAR (on European Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations) is managing the enlargement process and an important interlocutor for the Western Balkans.

DG REGIO (on Regional and Urban Policy) deals with processes such as the Danube Strategy and the Strategy for the Adriatic Ionian, the Interreg programme etc. in which the regional stakeholders are also involved.

The administrative head of a DG is known as the Director-General. Members of the European Commission can be found in the Commission Directory (Who is who).