In the European Community, relations between the Institutions—Parliament, Council, Commission, Court of Justice, Court of Auditors—are determined by the treaties which established the European Communities. Relations between the Commission and the European Parliament have developed considerably over the last 20 years and are coming increasingly to resemble those between a national govern ment and its Parliament. The election of the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage in June 1979 will give a new dimension to these essentially political rela tions. The Institutions will continue to evolve during the coming decade and relations between the Commission and the Parliament will undoubtedly be strengthened. Similarly, the Council will probably change shape in ways that cannot yet be foreseen.