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Prodi Commission

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Prodi Commission

3rd Commission of the European Union
Date formed16 September 1999 (1999-09-16)
Date dissolved21 November 2004 (2004-11-21)
History
Election(s)1999 European Parliament election
PredecessorSanter Commission
SuccessorBarroso Commission I
Headquarters of the European Commission in Brussels.

The Prodi Commission was the European Commission in office between 1999 and 2004. The administration was led by former Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi.

History

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The commission took office on 16 September 1999[1] following the scandal and subsequent resignation of the Santer Commission which had damaged the reputation of the institution. The college consisted of 20 Commissioners which grew to 30 following the Enlargement of the European Union in 2004. It was the last commission to see two members allocated to the larger member states.

This commission (the 10th) saw in increase in power and influence following the Amsterdam Treaty. Some in the media described president Prodi as being the first "Prime Minister of the European Union".[2][3]

As well as the enlargement and Amsterdam Treaty, the Prodi Commission also saw the signing and enforcement of the Nice Treaty as well as the conclusion and signing of the European Constitution: in which he introduced the "Convention method" of negotiation. From 1999 Prodi saw in the euro and by 2002 it came into cash form and the single currency for 12 of the EU's 15 member states.[4] The body was however criticised for being lacklustre, with poor communication and failing to make an impact despite major events such as enlargement and the euro.[5]

The commission was due to leave office on 31 October 2004, but due to opposition from the European Parliament to the proposed Barroso Commission which would succeed it, it was extended and finally left office on 21 November 2004.

Commissioners

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New members of May 2004 with president Prodi

When the Commission took office in 1999, there were 20 Commissioners, one from each member state and two from the largest 5 states (Italy, France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom).

2004 saw 15 new Commissioners, 5 replacing existing Commissioners who had resigned before the end of their mandate and 10 from the new member states who joined in that year. Most of these Commissioners continued to serve in the following Barroso Commission.

The members from the new states shared a portfolio with an existing member, rather than creating new posts or having Commissioners (old or new) without a portfolio.

The following table indicates the number of Commissioners according to their political alignment at the start of the commission, those who joined from the new member states and the number when the Commission left office. The colours reflect those used in the table of Commissioners below.

By political affiliation

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Political alignment 1999 to 2003 Joined on 4 May November 2004
Social Democrats (PES) 10 0 8
Liberals (ELDR) 2 2 6
Centre-right (EPP-ED) 5 3 9
Greens (EGP) 1 0 1
Independent 2 5 6

Initial College

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Commissioner Portrait Portfolio State Party Notes
Romano Prodi President Italy Italy ELDR
National: ID/DL
Neil Kinnock Vice-President;

Administrative Reform

United Kingdom United Kingdom PES
National: Labour
Loyola de Palacio Vice-President;

Inter-Institutional Relations and Administration, Transport and Energy

Spain Spain EPP
National: PP
Mario Monti Competition Italy Italy Independent
Franz Fischler Agriculture and Fisheries Austria Austria EPP
National: ÖVP
Erkki Liikanen Enterprise and Information Society Finland Finland PES
National: SDP
Served until 12 July 2004
Olli Rehn Enterprise and Information Society Finland Finland ELDR
National: Keskusta
Served from 12 July 2004
Frits Bolkestein Internal Market Netherlands Netherlands ELDR
National: VVD
Philippe Busquin Research Belgium Belgium PES
National: PS
Served until July 2004
Louis Michel Research Belgium Belgium ELDR
National: MR
Served from July 2004
Poul Nielson Development and Humanitarian Aid Denmark Denmark PES
National: SD
Günter Verheugen Enlargment Germany Germany PES
National: SPD
Chris Patten External Relations United Kingdom United Kingdom ED
National: Conservatives
Pascal Lamy Trade France France PES
National: PS
David Byrne Health and Consumer Protection Republic of Ireland Ireland Independent
Viviane Reding Education and Culture Luxembourg Luxembourg EPP
National: CSV
Michaele Schreyer Budget Germany Germany EGP
National: DG
Margot Wallström Environment Sweden Sweden PES
National: SAP
António Vitorino Justice and Home Affairs Portugal Portugal PES
National: PS
Anna Diamantopoulou Employment and Social Affairs Greece Greece PES
National: PASOK
Served until March 2004
Stavros Dimas Employment and Social Affairs Greece Greece EPP
National: ND
Served from March 2004
Michel Barnier Regional Policy France France EPP
National: UMP
Served until April 2004
Jacques Barrot Regional Policy France France EPP
National: UMP
Served from April 2004
Pedro Solbes Economic and Monetary Affairs Spain Spain PES
National: PSOE
Served until 26 April 2004
Joaquín Almunia Economic and Monetary Affairs Spain Spain PES
National: PSOE
Served from 26 April 2004

New commissioners from 1 May 2004

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Commissioner Portrait Portfolio State Party Notes
Péter Balázs Regional Policy Hungary Hungary Independent
Danuta Hübner Trade Poland Poland Independent
Siim Kallas Economic and Monetary Affairs Estonia Estonia ELDR
National: Reform
Joe Borg Development & Humanitarian Aid Malta Malta EPP
National: PN
Sandra Kalniete Agriculture and Fisheries Latvia Latvia EPP
National: Vienotiba
Dalia Grybauskaitė Education and Culture Lithuania Lithuania Independent
Janez Potočnik Enlargment Slovenia Slovenia Independent
Ján Figeľ Enterprise and Information Society Slovakia Slovakia EPP
National: KDH
Markos Kyprianou Budget Cyprus Cyprus ELDR
National: DIKO
Pavel Telička Health and Consumer Protection Czech Republic Czech Republic Independent

See also

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References

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