By its Decision setting up the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency of 20 April 2009 the European Commission has set up an executive body - the Education, Audiovisual & Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) - for the management of Community action in the fields of education, audiovisual and culture for a period beginning at January 1. 2005 and ending at December 31. 2015 (Art. 3). Based on Council Regulation EC N° 58/2003 the European Commission is authorised to set up executive agencies for certain purposes in the field of administration of the EU-Programmes.

The seven key EU-Programmes at least in part delegated to the EACEA are the following:

Lifelong Learning Programme

ERASMUS Mundus,

TEMPUS,

CULTURE,

YOUTH-Action Programme,

 Europe for Citizens and

 MEDIA 2007.

Additionally the EACEA is involved in the implementation and administration of several international cooperation agreements in the field of higher education and vocational education and training.

The EACEA's role is to manage European funding opportunities and networks in the fields of education and training, citizenship, youth, audiovisual and culture. Its tasks comprise:

the management of the administrative aspects of the EU-Programmes, including: drawing up conditions and guidelines for funding opportunities; evaluating applications, selecting projects and signing project agreements; financial management; contacts with beneficiaries; monitoring of projects (intermediate and final reports, and controls); on-site project visits;

the information and support to applicants and beneficiaries;

the dissemination and exploitation of projects' results;

the management of Eurydice, the Network on Education systems and policies in Europe;

the contracting of studies on subjects relevant to the Education, Culture, Youth and Citizenship programmes.