The conventional notion that the Commission is a unitary actor is misleading. In reality, the Commission is culturally diverse and politically divided. Visitors are struck by the linguistic and cultural variety within and among directorates-general (DGs). As one moves down the corridor of a typical DG, or takes the stairs to the next floor, one is beamed from a French-speaking into a predominantly English- or Spanish-speaking environment – dotted with one-to-one conversations in Danish, Greek, or Dutch. Administrative and social styles vary markedly. Some units swear by an egalitarian consultative style; others are run in a hierarchical and directive fashion. Here are a few cues for distinguishing one from the other: whether doors are open or closed; whether several small informal meetings of co-workers are going on, or one director-led assembly; whether secretaries are facilitators or gatekeepers; whether it takes a simple phone call (or email), fax or letter, or a formal application to the hierarchy to meet an official; whether circulaires (the famous trail of bureaucratic paperwork) are treated on a first-in first-out basis, or reach to the ceiling in the director's office.

Political preferences differ from office to office. Euro-federalists work with defenders of state power and politically agnostic policy wonks. Market liberals negotiate with social democrats and with independents. Officials concerned about the Commission's managerial deficit argue with colleagues opposed to trading the Commission's executive power for administration and management.