Prodi Commission

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

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.

History

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

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

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

Portfolio(s) Commissioner State Party
President Romano Prodi ID/DL
ELDR
Vice-President;
Administrative reform
Neil Kinnock Labour
PES
Vice-President;
European Commissioner for Inter-Institutional Relations and Administration, Transport and Energy
Loyola de Palacio PP
EPP
Competition Mario Monti independent
Agriculture and Fisheries Franz Fischler ÖVP
EPP
Enterprise & Information Society Erkki Liikanen
Served until 12 July 2004
SDP
PES
Enterprise & Information Society Olli Rehn
Served from 12 July 2004
Keskusta
ELDR
Internal Market Frits Bolkestein VVD
ELDR
Research Philippe Busquin
Served until July 2004
PS
PES
Research Louis Michel
Served from July 2004
MR
ELDR
Development & Humanitarian Aid Poul Nielson SD
PES
Enlargement Günter Verheugen SPD
PES
External Relations Chris Patten Conservatives
ED
Trade Pascal Lamy PS
PES
Health & Consumer Protection David Byrne independent
Education & Culture Viviane Reding CSV
EPP
Budget Michaele Schreyer Greens
EGP
Environment Margot Wallström SAP
PES
Justice and Home Affairs António Vitorino PS
PES
Employment and Social Affairs Anna Diamantopoulou
Served until March 2004
PASOK
PES
Employment and Social Affairs Stavros Dimas
Served from March 2004
ND
EPP
Regional Policy Michel Barnier
Served until April 2004
UMP
EPP
Regional Policy Jacques Barrot
Served from April 2004
UMP
EPP
Economic & Monetary Affairs Pedro Solbes
Served until 26 April 2004
PSOE
PES
Economic & Monetary Affairs Joaquín Almunia
Served from 26 April 2004
PSOE
PES

New commissioners from 1 May 2004

Portfolio(s) Commissioner State Party
Regional Policy Péter Balázs independent
Trade Danuta Hübner independent
Economic & Monetary Affairs Siim Kallas Reform
ELDR
Development & Humanitarian Aid Joe Borg PN
EPP
Agriculture and Fisheries Sandra Kalniete Vienotiba
EPP
Education & Culture Dalia Grybauskaitė independent
Enlargement Janez Potočnik independent
Enterprise & Information Society Ján Figeľ KDH
EPP
Budget Markos Kyprianou DIKO
ELDR
Health & Consumer Protection Pavel Telička independent

See also

References

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