In 1977 the Statutes of the Fondation du Mérite européen were  radically altered to make the institution's structures more flexible and more effective. An Executive Board, an offshoot of the Board of Directors, was established to run the Foundation's day-to-day affairs, cover the executive aspects and prepare the decisions of the Board of Directors. The Executive Board consists of the Executive Directors and the President of the Board of Directors.

The Fondation du Mérite européen is managed by a Board of Directors consisting of no more than twenty members, of various European nationalities and from various European backgrounds, whose term of office is limited. This Board takes its decisions by a majority of its members. Certain decisions, in rare and exceptional circumstances, such as the exclusion of a member, are taken unanimously. For the purposes of managing the Fondation’s day-to-day affairs, it chooses from among its members one or more Vice-Presidents, one or more executive directors and, from among those, it may appoint a Secretary-General and a Treasurer. Certain responsibilities such as legal matters and public relations are assigned to members who are specialised in such areas. The Board has the most extensive powers. It also has a Secretariat. One of its main tasks is to approve the proposed awards.