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A portfolio in the European Commission is an area of responsibility assigned to a European Commissioner, usually connected to one or several Directorates-General (DGs).
Portfolios
Agriculture
The Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development is in charge of rural issues including most notably the controversial Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) which represents 44% of the EU budget. The post used to be combined with Fisheries in the Jenkins and Thorn Commissions. The related DG is the Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development
Name | Country | Period | Commission | Portoflio actual name | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Sicco Mansholt | Netherlands | 1958–1972 | Hallstein Commission I & II, Rey Commission, Malfatti Commission | Agriculture (vice-president) |
2 | Carlo Scarascia-Mugnozza | Italy | 1972–1973 | Mansholt Commission | Agriculture |
3 | Pierre Lardinois | Netherlands | 1973–1977 | Ortoli Commission | Agriculture |
4 | Finn Olav Gundelach | Denmark | 1977–1981 | Jenkins Commission | Agriculture-Fisheries (vice-president) |
1981–1985 | Thorn Commission | Agriculture | |||
5 | Poul Dalsager | Denmark | Agriculture | ||
6 | Frans Andriessen | Netherlands | 1985–1989 | Delors Commission I | Agriculture and Rural Development (vice-president) |
7 | Ray MacSharry | Ireland | 1989–1992 | Delors Commission II | Agriculture and Rural Development |
8 | René Steichen | Luxembourg | 1992–1995 | Delors Commission III | |
9 | Franz Fischler | Austria | 1995–1999 | Santer Commission | |
1999–2004 | Prodi Commission | Agriculture and Fisheries | |||
10 | Sandra Kalniete | Latvia | 2004 | ||
11 | Mariann Fischer Boel | Denmark | 2004–2010 | Barroso Commission I | Agriculture and Rural Development |
12 | Dacian Cioloş | Romania | 2010–2014 | Barroso Commission II | |
13 | Phil Hogan | Ireland | 2014–2019 | Juncker Commission | |
14 | Janusz Wojciechowski | Poland | 2019 Onwards | Von der Leyen Commission | Agriculture |
Climate Action
The post of Commissioner for Climate Action was created in February 2010, being split from the environmental portfolio to focus on fighting climate change. The first Commissioner to take the post was Connie Hedegaard who headed the Directorate-General for Climate Action.
Name | Country | Period | Commission | Portoflio actual name | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Connie Hedegaard | Denmark | 2010–2014 | Barroso Commission II | Climate Action |
2 | Miguel Arias Cañete | Spain | 2014–2019 | Juncker Commission | Climate Action and Energy |
3 | Frans Timmermans | Netherlands | 2019–2023 | Von der Leyen Commission | Climate Action |
4 | Maroš Šefčovič (acting) | Slovakia | 2023 | Von der Leyen Commission | Climate Action |
5 | Wopke Hoekstra | Netherlands | 2023–present | Von der Leyen Commission | Climate Action |
Competition
The Commissioner for Competition is the member responsible for commercial competition, company mergers, cartels, state aid, and anti-trust law. The position became the sole merger authority for the European Economic Area in September 1990. The Competition Commissioner is one of the most powerful positions in the commission and is notable in affecting global companies.[1] For example, the commissioner has been pursued a number of high-profile cases against anticompetitive behaviour; such as the case against the merger of Sony – BMG, against Apple Inc. regarding iTunes,[2] the ongoing case against Microsoft and in particular the GE-Honeywell merger attempt in 2001.[3] In 2007, Neelie Kroes (then Competition Commissioner) was the only Commissioner to make Forbes Magazine's List of The World's 100 Most Powerful Women; she held position 59.[4]
Name | Country | Period | Commission | Portoflio actual name | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Hans von der Groeben | West Germany | 1958–1967 | Hallstein Commission I & II | Competition |
2 | Maan Sassen | Netherlands | 1967–1971 | Rey Commission | |
3 | Albert Borschette | Luxembourg | 1970–1973 | Malfatti Commission, Mansholt Commission | Competition and Regional Policy |
1973–1977 | Ortoli Commission | Competition | |||
4 | Raymond Vouel | Luxembourg | 1976–1981 | Jenkins Commission | |
5 | Frans Andriessen | Netherlands | 1981–1985 | Thorn Commission | Parliamentary Relations and Competition |
6 | Peter Sutherland | Ireland | 1985–1989 | Delors Commission I | Competition, social affairs and education |
7 | Sir Leon Brittan | United Kingdom | 1989–1992 | Delors Commission II | Competition and financial institutions (vice-president) |
8 | Karel Van Miert | Belgium | 1993–1999 | Delors Commission III, Santer Commission | Competition (vice-president) |
9 | Mario Monti | Italy | 1999–2004 | Prodi Commission | Competition |
10 | Neelie Kroes | Netherlands | 2004–2010 | Barroso Commission I | |
11 | Joaquín Almunia | Spain | 2010–2014 | Barroso Commission II | Competition (vice-president) |
12 | Margrethe Vestager | Denmark | 2014 onwards | Juncker Commission, Von der Leyen Commission | Competition |
Development
The Commissioner for Development deals with promoting sustainable development in deprived regions (such as ACP countries and the EU's OCTs). It used to include humanitarian aid. The related DG is Directorate-General for International Partnerships
Name | Country | Period | Commission | Portoflio actual name | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Robert Lemaignen | France | 1958–1962 | Hallstein Commission I | Overseas Development |
2 | Henri Rochereau | France | 1962–1967 | Hallstein Commission II | |
1967–1970 | Rey Commission | Development Assistance | |||
3 | Jean-François Deniau | France | 1967–1970 | Rey Commission | Foreign Trade, Enlargement and Assistance to developing countries |
1970–1972 | Malfatti Commission | External Relations and Development Aid | |||
1972–1973 | Mansholt Commission | Foreign Affairs and Development Aid | |||
1973 | Ortoli Commission | Development cooperation | |||
4 | Claude Cheysson | France | 1973–1981 | Ortoli Commission, Jenkins Commission | Development |
1981 | Thorn Commission | ||||
5 | Edgard Pisani | France | 1981–1984 | ||
6 | Lorenzo Natali | Italy | 1985–1989 | Delors Commission I | Cooperation, development affairs and enlargement (vice-president) |
7 | Filippo Maria Pandolfi | Italy | 1989–1993 | Delors Commission II | Science, research, development, telecommunications and innovation (vice-president) |
7 | Manuel Marin | Spain | 1989–1992 | Cooperation, development and fisheries (vice-president) | |
1993–1994 | Delors Commission III | Cooperation, development and humanitarian aid (vice-president) | |||
8 | João de Deus Pinheiro | Portugal | 1995–1999 | Santer Commission | Relations with African, Caribbean, Pacific Countries, South Africa and the Lomé Convention |
9 | Poul Nielson | Denmark | 1999–2004 | Prodi Commission | Development and Humanitarian Aid |
10 | Joe Borg | Malta | 2004 | ||
11 | Benita Ferrero-Waldner | Austria | 2004–2010 | Barroso Commission I | External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy |
12 | Louis Michel | Belgium | 2004–2009 | Development and Humanitarian Aid | |
13 | Karel De Gucht | Belgium | 2009–2010 | ||
14 | Andris Piebalgs | Latvia | 2010–2014 | Barroso Commission II | Development |
15 | Neven Mimica | Croatia | 2014–2019 | Juncker Commission | International Cooperation and Development |
16 | Jutta Urpilainen | Finland | 2019 Onwards | Von der Leyen Commission | International Partnerhips |
Technology
The Commissioner for the Digital Agenda, previously the Commissioner for Information Society and Media, is responsible media and information issues such as telecoms and ICT.
2004–2010 Commissioner, Viviane Reding, found a relatively popular policy in seeking to lower roaming charges of mobile phones when travelling within the EU, stating: "For years, mobile roaming charges have remained unjustifiably high. We are therefore tackling one of the last borders within Europe's internal market".[5] Her legislation to cap roaming charges was approved by the Parliament in April 2007[6] On 7 April 2006 the commission launched the new ".eu" TLD for websites for EU companies and citizens wishing to have a non-national European internet address. This has proved popular with 2.5 being registered by April 2007. It is now the seventh most popular TLD worldwide, and third in Europe (after .de and .uk)[7]
In the previous Commission information society was linked with Enterprise (now linked with Industry).
Name | Country | Period | Commission | Portoflio actual name | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Fritz Hellwig | Germany | 1967–1970 | Rey Commission | Research and Technology, Distribution of Information and Joint Research Centre (vice-president) |
2 | Lorenzo Natali | Italy | 1981–1985 | Thorn Commission | Mediterranean Policy, Enlargement and Information (vice-president) |
3 | Karl-Heinz Narjes | Germany | 1985–1988 | Delors Commission I | Industry, information technology and science and research (vice-president) |
4 | Carlo Ripa di Meana | Italy | Institutional reforms, information policy, culture and tourism | ||
5 | Filippo Maria Pandolfi | Italy | 1989–1993 | Delors Commission II | Science, research, development, telecommunications and innovation (vice-president) |
6 | Martin Bangemann | Germany | 1993–1994 | Delors Commission III | Internal market, industrial affairs and ICT (vice-president) |
7 | Antonio Ruberti | Italy | Science, research, technological development and education (vice-president) | ||
(6) | Martin Bangemann | Germany | 1995–1999 | Santer Commission | Industrial affairs, Information and Telecommunications Technologies |
8 | Marcelino Oreja | Spain | Relations with the European Parliament, Culture, Audiovisual Policy | ||
9 | Erkki Liikanen | Finland | 1999–2004 | Prodi Commission | Enterprise and Information Society |
10 | Olli Rehn | Finland | 2004 | ||
11 | Ján Figeľ | Slovakia | 2004 | ||
12 | Viviane Reding | Luxembourg | 2004–2010 | Barroso Commission I | Information Society and Media |
13 | Neelie Kroes | Netherlands | 2010–2014 | Barroso Commission II | Digital Agenda (vice-president) |
14 | Andrus Ansip | Estonia | 2014–2019 | Juncker Commission | Digital Single Market (vice-president) |
15 | Maroš Šefčovič | Slovakia | 2019 | ||
16 | Margrethe Vestager | Denmark | 2019 Onwards | Von der Leyen Commission | Europe Fit for Digital Age (Executive Vice-President) |
Economic and Financial Affairs, Taxation and Customs
The Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs is responsible for the EU's economic affairs including the euro. In the Juncker Commission, the post also acquired responsibility for taxation and anti-fraud protection.
There have been calls for a strengthened economic portfolio with Ségolène Royal suggesting that there should be an economic government for the eurozone[8] and at the start of the first Barroso Commission Germany suggested an economic "super-commissioner"[9] – which could see a change in this position. That idea, however, was dropped but the Enterprise and Industry Commissioner was strengthened in response.[10]
Name | Country | Period | Commission | Portoflio actual name | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Robert Marjolin | France | 1958–1967 | Hallstein Commission I & II | Economics and Finance (vice-president) |
2 | Raymond Barre | France | 1967–1970 | Rey Commission | Economic and Finance, Statistical Office (vice-president) |
1970–1972 | Malfatti Commission, Mansholt Commission | Economic & Financial Affairs | |||
3 | Wilhelm Haferkamp | West Germany | 1973–1977 | Ortoli Commission | Economic and Finance, Credit and Investments (vice-president) |
3 | Henri François Simonet | Belgium | Taxation, Energy (vice-president) | ||
3 | Finn Olav Gundelach | Denmark | Internal Market, Customs Union | ||
4 | Richard Burke | Ireland | 1977–1981 | Jenkins Commission | Taxation, Consumer Affairs, Transport |
4 | Étienne Davignon | Belgium | Internal Market, Customs Union, Industrial Affairs | ||
4 | François-Xavier Ortoli | France | 1977–1985 | Economic and Financial Credit and Investments (vice-president) | |
Thorn Commission | Economic and Financial Credit and Investments (vice-president) | ||||
5 | Christopher Tugendhat | United Kingdom | 1981–1985 | Budget and Financial Control, Financial Institutions and Taxation (vice-president) | |
5 | Karl-Heinz Narjes | Germany | Internal Market, Industrial Innovation, Customs Union, the Environment, Consumer Protection and Nuclear Safety | ||
5 | Lord Cockfield | United Kingdom | 1985–1989 | Delors Commission I | Internal market, tax law and customs (vice-president) |
6 | Henning Christophersen | Denmark | Budget, financial control, personnel and administration (vice-president) | ||
1989–1992 | Delors Commission II | Economic & financial affairs and coordination of structural funds (vice-president) | |||
7 | Christiane Scrivener | France | Taxation and customs union | ||
(6) | Henning Christophersen | Denmark | 1992–1994 | Delors Commission III | Economic and Financial Affairs (vice-president) |
(7) | Christiane Scrivener | France | Taxation, customs union and consumer policies | ||
8 | Yves-Thibault de Silguy | France | 1995–1999 | Santer Commission | Economic and Financial Affairs |
8 | Mario Monti | Italy | Internal Market, Services Customs and Taxation | ||
9 | Pedro Solbes | Spain | 1999–2004 | Prodi Commission | Economic and Monetary Affairs |
10 | Joaquín Almunia | Spain | 2004 | ||
11 | Siim Kallas | Estonia | 2004 | ||
12 | Joaquín Almunia | Spain | 2004–2010 | Barroso Commission I | Economic and Financial Affairs |
12 | László Kovács | Hungary | Taxation and Customs Union | ||
13 | Olli Rehn | Finland | 2010–2014 | Barroso Commission II | Economic and Monetary Affairs and the Euro (vice-president) |
14 | Jyrki Katainen | Finland | 2014 | ||
15 | Algirdas Šemeta | Lithuania | 2010–2014 | Taxation and Customs Union, Audit and Anti-Fraud | |
16 | Pierre Moscovici | France | 2014–2019 | Juncker Commission | Economic and Financial Affairs, Taxation and Customs |
17 | Paolo Gentiloni | Italy | 2019 Onwards | Von der Leyen Commission | Economy |
17 | Valdis Dombrovskis | Latvia | 2019 Onwards | Economy that Works for People (Executive Vice-President) |
Education, Culture, Sport and Youth
The Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth is responsible for policies in education and training, youth, sport, civil society, culture, translation, interpretation and relations with the Office for Official Publications of the European Communities.
The post was enlarged since the Prodi Commission with the addition of training and multilingualism (The Directorate-General is still just Directorate-General for Education and Culture). When Romania joined the EU in 2007, multilingualism was handed over to the new Romanian commissioner. In its place the portfolio included youth, sport and civil society. Multilingualism was reintroduced in 2010 under Barroso's second Commission.
The commission has become increasingly active in education. The ERASMUS programme, which was established in 1987, is a student exchange programme promoting mobility of students between European universities. The Bologna process aims to create a European Higher Education Area where academic qualifications can be recognised across Europe. The European Institute of Technology is a proposed research university.
The previous portfolio to the current was Culture, merged with Audiovisual policy and EP relations.
Name | Country | Period | Commission | Portoflio actual name | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Carlo Ripa di Meana | Italy | 1985–1989 | Delors Commission I | Institutional reforms, information policy, culture and tourism |
2 | Jean Dondelinger | Luxembourg | 1989–1992 | Delors Commission II | Audiovisual and cultural affairs |
3 | Antonio Ruberti | Italy | 1993–1994 | Delors Commission III | Science, research, technological development and education (vice-president) |
3 | João de Deus Pinheiro | Portugal | Relations with Parliament, culture and audiovisual | ||
4 | Marcelino Oreja | Spain | 1995–1999 | Santer Commission | Relations with the European Parliament, Culture, Audiovisual Policy |
5 | Viviane Reding | Luxembourg | 1999–2004 | Prodi Commission | Education and Culture |
6 | Dalia Grybauskaitė | Lithuania | 2004 | ||
7 | Ján Figeľ | Slovakia | 2004–2009 | Barroso Commission I | Education, Training and Culture |
8 | Maroš Šefčovič | Slovakia | 2009–2010 | ||
7 | Leonard Orban | Romania | 2004–2010 | Multilingualism | |
8 | Androulla Vassiliou | Cyprus | 2010–2014 | Barroso Commission II | Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth |
9 | Tibor Navracsics | Hungary | 2014–2019 | Juncker Commission | Education, Culture, Youth and Sport |
10 | Mariya Gabriel | Bulgaria | 2019–2023[11] | Von der Leyen Commission | Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth |
11 | Iliana Ivanova | Bulgaria | (designated)[12] | Von der Leyen Commission | Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth |
Employment and Social Affairs
The Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion is responsible for matters including those relating to employment, discrimination and social affairs such as welfare. The post has had various alterations; under the first Barroso Commission it was known as Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities.
Name | Country | Period | Commission | Portoflio actual name | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Lionello Levi Sandri | Italy | 1967–1972 | Rey Commission | |
2 | Albert Coppé | Belgium | 1972–1973 | Malfatti Commission, Mansholt Commission | |
3 | Patrick Hillery | Ireland | 1973–1977 | Ortoli Commission | |
4 | Henk Vredeling | Netherlands | 1977–1981 | Jenkins Commission | Employment and Social Affairs (vice-president) |
5 | Ivor Richard | United Kingdom | 1981–1985 | Thorn Commission | Employment and Social Affairs |
6 | Alois Pfeiffer | West Germany | 1985–1987 | Delors Commission I | Economic affairs and employment |
7 | Peter Schmidhuber | West Germany | 1987–1989 | ||
8 | Peter Sutherland | Ireland | 1985–1989 | Competition, social affairs and education | |
9 | Manuel Marin | Spain | 1986–1989 | Competition, social affairs and education (vice-president) | |
10 | Vasso Papandreou | Greece | 1989–1992 | Delors Commission II | Employment, industrial relations and social affairs |
11 | Pádraig Flynn | Ireland | 1993–1995 | Delors Commission III | Social affairs and employment |
1994–1999 | Santer Commission | Employment and Social Affairs and relations with the EESC | |||
13 | Anna Diamantopoulou | Greece | 1999–2004 | Prodi Commission | Employment and Social Affairs |
14 | Stavros Dimas | Greece | 2004 | ||
14 | Vladimír Špidla | Czech Republic | 2004–2010 | Barroso Commission I | Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities |
15 | László Andor | Hungary | 2010–2014 | Barroso Commission II | Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion |
16 | Marianne Thyssen | Belgium | 2014–2019 | Juncker Commission | Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility |
17 | Nicolas Schmit | Luxembourg | 2019 Onwards | Von der Leyen Commission | Jobs and Social Rights |
Energy
The Commissioner holds responsibility for the European Union's energy policy as well as nuclear issues (Euratom). The Directorate-General for this portfolio is shared with the Commissioner for Transport as the Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport.
The EU is an active supporter of the Kyoto Protocol, which it signed alongside its member-states. In March 2007 the Union committed itself to cut CO2 emissions by 20 percent by 2020.EU agrees on carbon dioxide cuts There is also a desire to reduce dependency on Russian energy supplies following the disputes between Russia and Belarus and Ukraine.[13] In April 2007 five southern European countries signed a deal to build an oil pipeline from the Black Sea to Italy which will help diversify energy sources.[1]
Name | Country | Period | Commission | Portoflio actual name | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Wilhelm Haferkamp | West Germany | 1967–1973 | Rey Commission, Malfatti Commission, Mansholt Commission | |
2 | Henri François Simonet | Belgium | 1973–1977 | Ortoli Commission | |
3 | Guido Brunner | West Germany | 1977–1981 | Jenkins Commission | Energy, Research, Science |
4 | Étienne Davignon | Belgium | 1981–1985 | Thorn Commission | Industrial Affairs, Energy, Research and Science (vice-president) |
5 | Nicolas Mosar | Luxembourg | 1985–1989 | Delors Commission I | Energy & Euratom |
6 | Antonio Cardoso e Cunha | Portugal | 1989–1993 | Delors Commission II | Energy, Euratom, small businesses; staff and translation |
7 | Marcelino Oreja | Spain | 1993–1994 | Delors Commission III | Transport and energy |
8 | Abel Matutes | Spain | 1994–1995 | ||
9 | Christos Papoutsis | Greece | 1995–1999 | Santer Commission | Energy, Euratom Supply Agency, SMEs and Tourism |
10 | Loyola de Palacio | Spain | 1999–2004 | Prodi Commission | Inter-Institutional Relations and Administration, Transport and Energy (vice-president) |
11 | Andris Piebalgs | Latvia | 2004–2010 | Barroso Commission I | Energy |
12 | Günther Oettinger | Germany | 2010–2014 | Barroso Commission II | Energy (vice-president) |
13 | Miguel Arias Cañete | Spain | 2014–2019 | Juncker Commission | Climate Action and Energy |
14 | Maroš Šefčovič | Slovakia | Energy Union (vice-president) | ||
15 | Kadri Simson | Estonia | 2019 Onwards | Von der Leyen Commission | Energy |
Enlargement, European Neighbourhood Policy and External Relations
The Commissioner for Enlargement and the European Neighbourhood Policy is concerned with foreign policy towards the EU's nearest neighbours. The enlargement portfolio began to be created out of the regionalised foreign policy posts. In particular the Santer Commission post for relations with central and eastern Europe as those countries began applying to join. The Neighbourhood Policy element was created in 2004 as part of the External Relations portfolio. When that portfolio was absorbed by the High Representative in 2009, Neighbourhood Policy was transferred to Trade and then to Enlargement in 2010 under the Second Barroso Commission.
Name | Country | Period | Commission | Portoflio actual name | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lorenzo Natali | Italy | 1977–1981 | Jenkins Commission | Enlargement, Environment, Nuclear Safety | |
Wilhelm Haferkamp | Germany | External Relations (vice-president) | |||
1981–1985 | Thorn Commission | ||||
Lorenzo Natali | Italy | Mediterranean Policy, Enlargement and Information (vice-president) | |||
1985–1989 | Delors Commission I | Cooperation, development affairs and enlargement (vice-president) | |||
Claude Cheysson | France | Mediterranean policy and north–south relations | |||
Willy De Clercq | Belgium | External relations and trade policy | |||
Frans Andriessen | Netherlands | 1989–1992 | Delors Commission II | External relations and trade policy (vice-president) | |
Abel Matutes | Spain | 1989–1992 | Mediterranean and Latin American policy | ||
Hans van den Broek | Netherlands | 1993–1994 | Delors Commission III | External relations and enlargement | |
Leon Brittan | United Kingdom | 1995–1999 | Santer Commission | Commercial Policy and External Relations (vice-president) | |
Manuel Marin | Spain | External Relations (vice-president) | |||
João de Deus Pinheiro | Portugal | Relations with African, Caribbean, Pacific Countries | |||
Hans van den Broek | Netherlands | Relations with central and eastern Europe, CFSP and the External Service, South Africa and the Lomé Convention | |||
Chris Patten | United Kingdom | 1999–2004 | Prodi Commission | External Relations | |
Günter Verheugen | Germany | Enlargement | |||
Janez Potočnik | Slovenia | 2004 | |||
Olli Rehn | Finland | 2004–2010 | Barroso Commission I | ||
Benita Ferrero-Waldner | Austria | External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy | |||
Štefan Füle | Czech Republic | 2010–2014 | Barroso Commission II | Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy | |
Johannes Hahn | Austria | 2014–2019 | Juncker Commission | European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations | |
Olivér Várhelyi | Hungary | 2019 Onwards | Von der Leyen Commission | Neighbourhood and Enlargement |
Environment
The Commissioner for the Environment is responsible for protection of the European Union's environment. Specific actions relating to climate change are under the responsibility of the Climate Action commissioner as of 2010.
The EU has made a number of environmental moves, partially in regards to climate change. Most notably it signed the Kyoto Protocol in 1998, set up its Emission Trading Scheme in 2005 and is agreeing to unilaterally cut its emissions by 20% by 2020. (See: Energy policy of the European Union). Other policies include; the Natura 2000 a widespread and successful network of nature conservation sites, the Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals (REACH) directive requiring safety testing on widely used chemicals and the Water Framework Directive ensuring water quality reaches higher standards.
For more, see European Climate Change Programme, European Union Emission Trading Scheme, Renewable energy in the European Union and the Directorate-General for the Environment.
Name | Country | Period | Commission | Portoflio actual name | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lorenzo Natali | Italy | 1977–1981 | Jenkins Commission | Enlargement, Environment, Nuclear Safety | |
Karl-Heinz Narjes | Germany | 1981–1985 | Thorn Commission | Internal Market, Industrial Innovation, Customs Union, the Environment, Consumer Protection and Nuclear Safety | |
Stanley Clinton Davis | United Kingdom | 1985–1989 | Delors Commission I | Environment, consumer protection and transport | |
Carlo Ripa di Meana | Italy | 1989–1993 | Delors Commission II | Environment, nuclear safety and civil protection | |
Ioannis Paleokrassas | Greece | 1993–1995 | Delors Commission III | Environment, fisheries | |
Ritt Bjerregaard | Denmark | 1995–1999 | Santer Commission | Environment and nuclear security | |
Margot Wallström | Sweden | 1999–2004 | Prodi Commission | Environment | |
Stavros Dimas | Greece | 2004–2010 | Barroso Commission I | ||
Janez Potočnik | Slovenia | 2010–2014 | Barroso Commission II | ||
Karmenu Vella | Malta | 2014–2019 | Juncker Commission | Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries | |
Virginijus Sinkevičius | Lithuania | 2019 Onwards | Von der Leyen Commission | Environment, Oceans and Fisheries |
Budget and Human Resources
The Commissioner for Budget and Human Resources is primarily responsible for the management of the budget of the European Union and related financial issues except for budgetary discharge which falls under the Commissioner for administration commissioner. Previously simply for the budget, the position expanded under the Prodi Commission to include financial programming. The related DG is the Directorate-General for Budget.
Under Commissioner Grybauskaitė, Commissioner's 121.6 billion euro 2008 budget proposed that for the first time funding for sustainable growth (€57.2 billion) would be higher than that of the Common Agricultural Policy (€56.3 billion), traditionally the largest source of expenditure in the EU. There would be an increase in cohesion funds, energy and transport of 14%, research by 11% and lifelong learning by 9%. There would also be an increase in the administrative budget, aid to Kosovo and Palestinian institutions and funds towards the Galileo project. Group of EU states wary of 2008 budget plan
Name | Country | Period | Commission | Portoflio actual name | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Albert Coppé | Belgium | 1967–1973 | Malfatti Commission, Mansholt Commission | ||
Wilhelm Haferkamp | Germany | 1973–1977 | Ortoli Commission | ||
Christopher Tugendhat | United Kingdom | 1977–1981 | Jenkins Commission | Budget and Financial Control, Financial Institutions | |
1981–1985 | Thorn Commission | Budget and Financial Control, Financial Institutions and Taxation (vice-president) | |||
Michael O'Kennedy | Ireland | 1981–1982 | Personnel and Administration | ||
Richard Burke | Ireland | 1982–1985 | |||
Henning Christophersen | Denmark | 1985–1989 | Delors Commission I | Budget, financial control, personnel and administration | |
Antonio Cardoso e Cunha | Portugal | 1989–1993 | Delors Commission II | Energy, Euratom, small businesses; staff and translation | |
Peter Schmidhuber | Germany | Budget | |||
1993–1995 | Delors Commission III | Budget, financial control and the cohesion fund | |||
Erkki Liikanen | Finland | 1995–1999 | Santer Commission | Budget, Personnel and Administration | |
Michaele Schreyer | Germany | 1999–2004 | Prodi Commission | Budget | |
Marcos Kyprianou | Cyprus | 2004 | |||
Dalia Grybauskaitė | Lithuania | 2004–2009 | Barroso Commission I | Financial Programming and the Budget | |
Algirdas Šemeta | Lithuania | 2009–2010 | |||
Janusz Lewandowski | Poland | 2010–2014 | Barroso Commission II | ||
Jacek Dominik | Poland | 2014 | |||
Maroš Šefčovič | Slovakia | 2010–2014 | Inter-Institutional Relations and Administration (vice-president) | ||
Kristalina Georgieva | Bulgaria | 2014–2016 | Juncker Commission | Budget and Human Resources (vice-president) | |
Günther Oettinger | Germany | 2017–2019 | Budget and Human Resources | ||
Johannes Hahn | Austria | 2019 Onwards | Von der Leyen Commission | Budget and Administration |
Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union
The Commissioner for Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union is responsible for banking and finance. It was a role created under the Juncker Commission.
Name | Country | Period | Commission | Portfolio actual name | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Christopher Tugendhat | United Kingdom | 1977–1981 | Jenkins Commission | Budget and Financial Control, Financial Institutions | |
1981–1985 | Thorn Commission | Budget and Financial Control, Financial Institutions and Taxation (vice-president) | |||
Henning Christophersen | Denmark | 1985–1989 | Delors Commission I | Budget, financial control, personnel and administration | |
Abel Matutes | Spain | 1986–1989 | Credit, investments, financial instruments and small & medium-sized enterprises | ||
Sir Leon Brittan | United Kingdom | 1989–1992 | Delors Commission II | Competition and financial institutions (vice-president) | |
Peter Schmidhuber | Germany | 1993–1994 | Delors Commission III | Budget, financial control and the cohesion fund | |
Anita Gradin | Sweden | 1995–1999 | Santer Commission | Immigration, Justice & Home Affairs, Financial Control, Anti-fraud and Relations with the European Ombudsman. | |
Jonathan Hill | United Kingdom | 2014–2016 | Juncker Commission | Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union | |
Valdis Dombrovskis | Latvia | 2016–2019 | Juncker Commission | Euro and Social Dialogue and Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union (vice-president) | |
2019–2020 | Von der Leyen Commission | Financial Markets | |||
Mairead McGuinness | Ireland | 2020–present | Von der Leyen Commission | Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union |
Institutional Reform, Democracy and Demography
Name | Country | Period | Commission | Portfolio actual name | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Neil Kinnock | United Kingdom | 1999–2004 | Prodi Commission | Administrative reform (vice-president) | |
Carlo Ripa di Meana | Italy | 1985–1989 | Delors Commission I | Institutional reforms, information policy, culture and tourism | |
Raniero Vanni d'Archirafi | Italy | 1993–1994 | Delors Commission III | Institutional reform, internal market and enterprise | |
Dubravka Šuica | Croatia | nominated | Von der Leyen Commission | Democracy and Demography (Vice-President) |
Health and Consumer Protection
The Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy is responsible for matters of public health, food safety, animal health, welfare and consumer affairs. Between 2007 and 2010 it was split into a Commissioner for Health and a Commissioner for Consumer Protection – in order to give a portfolio for the incoming Bulgarian Commissioner. It was recombined under the second Barroso Commission.
Name | Country | Period | Commission | Portoflio actual name | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Richard Burke | Ireland | 1977–1981 | Jenkins Commission | Taxation, Consumer Affairs, Transport | |
Karl-Heinz Narjes | Germany | 1981–1985 | Thorn Commission | Internal Market, Industrial Innovation, Customs Union, the Environment, Consumer Protection and Nuclear Safety | |
Stanley Clinton Davis | United Kingdom | 1985–1989 | Delors Commission I | Environment, consumer protection and transport | |
Grigoris Varfis | Greece | 1986–1989 | Relations with the European Parliament, regional policy and consumer protection | ||
Karel Van Miert | Belgium | 1989–1992 | Delors Commission II | Transport and consumer protection | |
Christiane Scrivener | France | 1992–1994 | Delors Commission III | Taxation, customs union and consumer policies | |
Emma Bonino | Italy | 1995–1999 | Santer Commission | Consumer Policy, Fisheries and ECHO | |
David Byrne | Ireland | 1999–2004 | Prodi Commission | Health and Consumer Protection | |
Pavel Telička | Czech Republic | 2004 | |||
Markos Kyprianou | Cyprus | 2004–2008 | Barroso Commission I | Health | |
Androulla Vassiliou | Cyprus | 2008–2010 | |||
Meglena Kuneva | Bulgaria | 2007–2010 | Consumer Protection | ||
John Dalli | Malta | 2010–2012 | Barroso Commission II | Health and Consumer Policy | |
Tonio Borg | Malta | 2012–2014 | Health | ||
Neven Mimica | Croatia | 2013–2014 | Consumer Protection | ||
Vytenis Andriukaitis | Lithuania | 2014–2019 | Juncker Commission | Health and Food Safety | |
Věra Jourová | Czech Republic | 2014–2019 | Justice and Consumers | ||
Stella Kyriakidou | Cyprus | 2019 Onwards | Von der Leyen Commission | Health and Food Safety | |
Didier Reynders | Belgium | nominated | Justice |
High Representative
The High Representative became a Commissioner on 1 December 2009, replacing the External Relations Commissioner (see historical below). Although other external relations posts continue to exist, such as trade, the High Representative is the most senior foreign affairs post in the EU.
Home Affairs
The Commissioner for Home Affairs was created in 2010 by dividing the previous Justice, Freedom and Security portfolio into a security orientated post (DG HOME) and a post centred on justice, on individual and fundamental rights (DG JUST). Its DG is the Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs (DG HOME).
Name | Country | Period | Commission | Portfolio actual name |
---|---|---|---|---|
Anita Gradin | Sweden | 1995–1999 | Santer Commission | Immigration, Justice & Home Affairs, Financial Control, Anti-fraud and Relations with the European Ombudsman. |
António Vitorino | Portugal | 1999–2004 | Prodi Commission | Justice and Home Affairs |
Franco Frattini | Italy | 2004–2008 | Barroso Commission I | Justice, Freedom and Security (vice-president) |
Jacques Barrot | France | 2008–2009 | ||
Cecilia Malmström | Sweden | 2010–2014 | Barroso Commission II | Home Affairs |
Viviane Reding | Luxembourg | 2010–2014 | Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship (vice-president) | |
Martine Reicherts | Luxembourg | 2014 | Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship | |
Dimitris Avramopoulos | Greece | 2014–2019 | Juncker Commission | Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship |
Margaritis Schinas | Greece | 2019– | Von der Leyen Commission | Promoting our European Way of Life (vice-president) |
Ylva Johansson | Sweden | 2019– | Home Affairs |
Industry and Entrepreneurship
The Commissioner for Enterprise and Industry post was enlarged from the Commissioner for Enterprise and Information Society portfolio in the Prodi Commission to include Industry. At the start of the first Barroso Commission, Germany, backed by Britain and France suggested an economic "super-commissioner"[9] to fight for competitiveness. Although rejected, this idea though has been taken on by Verheugen, as the Enterprise and Industry portfolio was enlarged and was made a Vice President.[10]
As Commissioner, he indicates his aim to increase the competitiveness of Europe, there is a separate Commissioner for Competition dealing with competition between companies within Europe. However, with the numerous economic portfolios, there is a degree of overlap which has been a matter of concern for him along with the purported difficulty of firing director-generals. This Commissioner also chairs the Competitiveness Council Commissioners Group and is the vice chair of the Group of Commissioners on the Lisbon Strategy. He is expected to be the European chair of the new Transatlantic Economic Council. The relevant DG is Directorate-General for Enterprise and Industry.
Name | Country | Period | Commission | Portoflio actual name | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Étienne Davignon | Belgium | 1977–1981 | Jenkins Commission | Internal Market, Customs Union, Industrial Affairs | |
1981–1985 | Thorn Commission | Industrial Affairs, Energy, Research and Science (vice-president) | |||
Karl-Heinz Narjes | Germany | Internal Market, Industrial Innovation, Customs Union, the Environment, Consumer Protection and Nuclear Safety | |||
Karl-Heinz Narjes | Germany | 1985–1989 | Delors Commission I | Industry, information technology and science and research (vice-president) | |
Abel Matutes | Spain | 1986–1989 | Credit, investments, financial instruments and small & medium-sized enterprises | ||
Martin Bangemann | Germany | 1989–1992 | Delors Commission II | Internal market and industrial affairs (vice-president) | |
Antonio Cardoso e Cunha | Portugal | Energy, Euratom, small businesses; staff and translation | |||
Vasso Papandreou | Greece | Employment, industrial relations and social affairs | |||
Martin Bangemann | Germany | 1993–1994 | Delors Commission III | Internal market, industrial affairs and ICT (vice-president) | |
Raniero Vanni d'Archirafi | Italy | Institutional reform, internal market and enterprise | |||
Martin Bangemann | Germany | 1995–1999 | Santer Commission | Industrial affairs, Information & Telecommunications Technologies | |
Christos Papoutsis | Greece | Energy, Euratom Supply Agency, SMEs and Tourism | |||
Erkki Liikanen | Finland | 1999–2004 | Prodi Commission | Enterprise and Information Society | |
Olli Rehn | Finland | 2004 | |||
Ján Figeľ | Slovakia | 2004 | |||
Günter Verheugen | Germany | 2004–2010 | Barroso Commission I | Enterprise and Industry (vice-president) | |
Antonio Tajani | Italy | 2010–2014 | Barroso Commission II | Industry and Entrepreneurship (vice-president) | |
Ferdinando Nelli Feroci | Italy | 2014 | Industry and Entrepreneurship | ||
Elżbieta Bieńkowska | Poland | 2014–2019 | Juncker Commission | Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs | |
Thierry Breton | France | 2019 Onwards | Von der Leyen Commission | Internal Market |
Internal Market
The Commissioner for Internal Market and Services concerned the development of the 480-million-strong European single market, promoting free movement of people, goods, services and capital. The related DG is Directorate-General for Internal Market and Services and it is also related to the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market.
Commissioner Frits Bolkestein (Netherlands) served in the Prodi Commission between 1999 and 2004. In addition to holding the Internal Market portfolio he also held Taxation and Customs Union. Bolkestein is most notable for the Directive on services in the internal market, which is commonly called the "Bolkestein Directive". The directive aimed at enabling a company from a one member-state to recruit workers in another member-state under the law of the company's home state. It was to help the development of the internal market for services, the development of which has lagged behind that for goods. However, there was a great deal of concern about its effect on social standards and welfare, triggering competition between various parts of Europe. This led to significant protests across Europe against the directive including a notable protest at the European Parliament in Strasbourg by port workers which led to damage to the building. MEPs eventually reached a compromise on the text and the Parliament adopted it on 12 December 2006; 2 years after Bolkestein left office, under the Barroso Commission.
The portfolio was merged in 2014 with the one for Industry and Entrepreneurship.
Name | Country | Period | Commission | Portoflio actual name | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Piero Malvestiti | Italy | 1958–1959 | Hallstein Commission I | ||
Giuseppe Caron | Italy | 1959–1963 | Hallstein Commission I & II | ||
Guido Colonna di Paliano | Italy | 1964–1967 | Hallstein Commission II | ||
Hans von der Groeben | West Germany | 1967–1970 | Rey Commission | ||
Wilhelm Haferkamp | West Germany | 1970–1973 | Malfatti Commission, Mansholt Commission | ||
Finn Olav Gundelach | Denmark | 1973–1977 | Ortoli Commission | ||
Étienne Davignon | Belgium | 1977–1981 | Jenkins Commission | Internal Market, Customs Union, Industrial Affairs | |
Karl-Heinz Narjes | Germany | 1981–1985 | Thorn Commission | Internal Market, Industrial Innovation, Customs Union, the Environment, Consumer Protection and Nuclear Safety | |
Lord Cockfield | United Kingdom | 1985–1989 | Delors Commission I | Internal market, tax law and customs | |
Martin Bangemann | Germany | 1989–1992 | Delors Commission II | Internal market and industrial affairs (vice-president) | |
1993–1994 | Delors Commission III | Internal market, industrial affairs and ICT (vice-president) | |||
Raniero Vanni d'Archirafi | Italy | 1993–1994 | Delors Commission III | Institutional reform, internal market and enterprise | |
Mario Monti | Italy | 1994–1999 | Santer Commission | Internal Market, Services, Customs and Taxation | |
Frits Bolkestein | Netherlands | 1999–2004 | Prodi Commission | Internal Market | |
Charlie McCreevy | Ireland | 2004–2010 | Barroso Commission I | Internal Market and Services | |
Michel Barnier | France | 2010–2014 | Barroso Commission II | Internal Market and Services (vice-president) | |
Elżbieta Bieńkowska | Poland | 2014–2019 | Juncker Commission | Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs | |
Thierry Breton | France | 2019 Onwards | Von der Leyen Commission | Internal Market |
International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid, Civil Protection and Crisis Management
The Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response was created under the second Barroso Commission in 2010 . It deals in party with dealing with humanitarian disasters and humanitarian aid: the EU is the largest supplier of aid in the world.
Name | Country | Period | Commission | Portoflio actual name | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Robert Lemaignen | France | 1958–1962 | Hallstein Commission | ||
Henri Rochereau | France | 1962–1970 | Hallstein Commission, Rey Commission | ||
Jean-François Deniau | France | 1967–1973 | Rey Commission, Malfatti Commission, Mansholt Commission | ||
Claude Cheysson | France | 1973–1981 | Ortoli Commission, Jenkins Commission, Thorn Commission | ||
Edgard Pisani | France | 1981–1985 | Thorn Commission | ||
Lorenzo Natali | Italy | 1985–1989 | Delors Commission I | Cooperation, development affairs and enlargement (vice-president) | |
Carlo Ripa di Meana | Italy | 1989–1992 | Delors Commission II | Environment, nuclear safety and civil protection | |
Manuel Marin | Spain | Cooperation, development and fisheries (vice-president) | |||
1992–1994 | Delors Commission III | Cooperation, development and humanitarian aid | |||
João de Deus Pinheiro | Portugal | 1995–1999 | Santer Commission | Relations with African, Caribbean, Pacific Countries, South Africa and the Lomé Convention | |
Emma Bonino | Italy | 1995–1999 | Consumer Policy, Fisheries and ECHO | ||
Poul Nielson | Denmark | 1999–2004 | Prodi Commission | Development and Humanitarian Aid | |
Joe Borg | Malta | 2004 | |||
Benita Ferrero-Waldner | Austria | 2004–2010 | Barroso Commission I | External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy | |
Louis Michel | Belgium | 2004–2009 | Development and Humanitarian Aid | ||
Karel De Gucht | Belgium | 2009–2010 | |||
Kristalina Georgieva | Bulgaria | 2010–2014 | Barroso Commission II | International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response | |
Christos Stylianides | Cyprus | 2014–2019 | Juncker Commission | Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management | |
Janez Lenarčič | Slovenia | 2019 Onwards | Von der Leyen Commission | Crisis Management |
Interinstitutional Relations and Foresight
The Vice President of the European Commission for Interinstitutional Relations and Foresight is responsible for the administration of the commission, including management of some of the commission's Internal Services; in particular consolidation of administrative reform, personnel and administration, European Schools and security. The Commissioner is also responsible for the following departments; the Directorate-General for Personnel and Administration, the Office for the Administration and Payment of Individual Entitlement, the Directorate-General for Informatics, the Office of Infrastructure and Logistics, and relations with the European Personnel Selection Office.[14] The current Vice President is Maroš Šefčovič.
Prior to 2010 it was also responsible for Audit and Anti-Fraud, now merged with taxation, but gain responsibility for relations with the other EU institutions.
Name | Country | Period | Commission | Portoflio actual name | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Frans Andriessen | Netherlands | 1981–1985 | Thorn Commission | Parliamentary Relations and Competition | |
Michael O'Kennedy | Ireland | 1981–1982 | Personnel and Administration | ||
Richard Burke | Ireland | 1982–1985 | |||
Henning Christophersen | Denmark | 1985–1988 | Delors Commission I | Budget, financial control, personnel and administration | |
Grigoris Varfis | Greece | 1986–1988 | Relations with the European Parliament, regional policy and consumer protection | ||
Antonio Cardoso e Cunha | Portugal | 1989–1993 | Delors Commission II | Energy, Euratom, small businesses; staff and translation | |
João de Deus Pinheiro | Portugal | 1993–1994 | Delors Commission III | Relations with Parliament, culture and audiovisual | |
Erkki Liikanen | Finland | 1995–1999 | Santer Commission | Budget, Personnel and Administration | |
Marcelino Oreja | Spain | Relations with the European Parliament, Culture, Audiovisual Policy | |||
Anita Gradin | Sweden | Immigration, Justice & Home Affairs, Financial Control, Anti-fraud and Relations with the European Ombudsman. | |||
Loyola de Palacio | Spain | 1999–2004 | Prodi Commission | European Commissioner for Interinstitutional Relations and Administration, Transport and Energy (vice-president) | |
Margot Wallström | Sweden | Barroso Commission I | Institutional Relations and Communication Strategy (First Vice-President) | ||
Siim Kallas | Estonia | 2004–2009 | Administrative Affairs, Audit and Anti-Fraud | ||
Maroš Šefčovič | Slovakia | 2010–2014 | Barroso Commission II | Interinstitutional Relations and Administration (vice-president) | |
Frans Timmermans | Netherlands | 2014–2019 | Juncker Commission | Better Regulation, Interinstitutional Relations, Rule of Law and Charter of Fundamental Rights (First Vice-President) | |
Maroš Šefčovič | Slovakia | 2019–present | Von der Leyen Commission | Interinstitutional Relations and Foresight (vice-president) |
Justice and Gender Equality
The Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship was created in 2010 by dividing the previous Justice, Freedom and Security portfolio into a security orientated post and a justice and fundamental rights orientated post. The portfolio was then renamed into Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality under the Juncker Commission.
Name | Country | Period | Commission | Portoflio actual name | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Anita Gradin | Sweden | 1995–1999 | Santer Commission | Immigration, Justice & Home Affairs, Financial Control, Anti-fraud and Relations with the European Ombudsman. | |
António Vitorino | Portugal | 1999–2004 | Prodi Commission | Justice and Home Affairs | |
Franco Frattini | Italy | 2004–2008 | Barroso Commission I | Justice, Freedom and Security (vice-president) | |
Jacques Barrot | France | 2008–2009 | |||
Viviane Reding | Luxembourg | 2010–2014 | Barroso Commission II | Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship (vice-president) | |
Frans Timmermans | Netherlands | 2014–present | Juncker Commission | Better Regulation, Inter-Institutional Relations, Rule of Law and Charter of Fundamental Rights (First Vice-President) | |
Věra Jourová | Czech Republic | 2014 onwards | Justice and Consumers | ||
nominated | Von der Leyen Commission | Values and Transparency (Vice-President) | |||
Didier Reynders | Belgium | nominated | Justice | ||
Helena Dalli | Malta | nominated | Equality |
Maritime Affairs and Fisheries
The Maritime affairs and Fisheries Commissioner is responsible for policies such as the Common Fisheries Policy, which is largely a competence of the EU rather than the members. The Union has 66,000 km of coastline[15] and the largest Exclusive Economic Zone in the world, covering 25 million km2.[16]
On 7 June 2006 the Commission published a green paper for a Maritime Policy and consultation will end in June 2007.[17] The document addresses a number of issues such as sustainable development, protection of the environment, skills and employment, technology and resources, coastal safety and tourism, financial support and heritage.[18] The Commission came under fire in May 2007 for not penalise French fishermen after over-fishing the threatened bluefin tuna by 65% while backing penalties on Irish fishermen for over-fishing mackerel.[19]
Name | Country | Period | Commission | Portoflio actual name | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Finn Olav Gundelach | Denmark | 1977–1981 | Jenkins Commission | Agriculture-Fisheries (vice-president) | |
Giorgos Kontogeorgis | Greece | 1981–1985 | Thorn Commission | Transport, Fisheries and Tourism | |
Frans Andriessen | Netherlands | 1985–1989 | Delors Commission I | Agriculture and fisheries (vice-president) | |
António Cardoso e Cunha | Portugal | 1986–1989 | Fisheries | ||
Manuel Marin | Spain | 1989–1992 | Delors Commission II | Cooperation, development and fisheries (vice-president) | |
Ioannis Paleokrassas | Greece | 1993–1995 | Delors Commission III | Environment, fisheries | |
Franz Fischler | Austria | 1999–2004 | Prodi Commission | Agriculture and Fisheries | |
Sandra Kalniete | Latvia | 2004 | |||
Joe Borg | Malta | 2004–2010 | Barroso Commission I | Fisheries and Maritime Affairs | |
Maria Damanaki | Greece | 2010–2014 | Barroso Commission II | Maritime Affairs and Fisheries | |
Karmenu Vella | Malta | 2014–2019 | Juncker Commission | Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries | |
Virginijus Sinkevičius | Lithuania | 2019 Onwards | Von der Leyen Commission | Environment, Oceans and Fisheries |
Regional Policy and Cohesion
The Regional Policy Commissioner, occasional Regional Affairs Commissioner, is responsible for managing the regional policy of the EU which takes up a third of the EU's budget; it includes the European Regional Development Fund, Structural Funds and Cohesion Funds, Instrument for Structural Policies for Pre-Accession and the European Social Fund. The related DG is Directorate-General for Regional Policy.
Name | Country | Period | Commission | Portoflio actual name | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hans von der Groeben | Germany | 1967–1970 | Rey Commission | ||
Albert Borschette | Luxembourg | 1970–1973 | Malfatti Commission, Mansholt Commission | ||
George Thomson | United Kingdom | 1973–1977 | Ortoli Commission | ||
Antonio Giolitti | Italy | 1977–1985 | Jenkins Commission, Thorn Commission | Regional Policy | |
Grigoris Varfis | Greece | 1985–1989 | Delors Commission I | Relations with the European Parliament, regional policy and consumer protection | |
Henning Christophersen | Denmark | 1985–1989 | Delors Commission I | Budget, financial control, personnel and administration (vice-president) | |
Bruce Millan | United Kingdom | 1989–1992 | Delors Commission II | Regional Policy | |
1993–1994 | Delors Commission III | Regional Policy and Cohesion | |||
Peter Schmidhuber | Germany | Budget, financial control and the cohesion fund | |||
Monika Wulf-Mathies | Germany | 1994–1999 | Santer Commission | Regional Policy | |
Michel Barnier | France | 1999–2004 | Prodi Commission | ||
Jacques Barrot | France | 2004 | |||
Péter Balázs | Hungary | 2004 | |||
Danuta Hübner | Poland | 2004–2009 | Barroso Commission I | ||
Paweł Samecki | Poland | 2009–2010 | |||
Johannes Hahn | Austria | 2010–2014 | Barroso Commission II | ||
Corina Crețu | Romania | 2014–2019 | Juncker Commission | ||
Elisa Ferreira | Portugal | 2019 Onwards | Von der Leyen Commission | Cohesion and Reforms |
Research, Innovation and Science
The name has had several variations: under the first Barroso Commission it was Science and Research, under Prodi it was simply "Research", Santer was "Research, Science and Technology" and under Delors it was combined with others as "Industry, information technology and science and research" and other various names and combinations prior. The related DG is the Directorate-General for Research.
The 2004–2010 Commissioner, Potočnik, aimed to create a European Research Area.[20]
Name | Country | Period | Commission | Portoflio actual name | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fritz Hellwig | West Germany | 1967–1970 | Rey Commission | ||
Ralf Dahrendorf | West Germany | 1973–1977 | Ortoli Commission | ||
Guido Brunner | West Germany | 1977–1981 | Jenkins Commission | Energy, Research, Science | |
Étienne Davignon | Belgium | 1981–1985 | Thorn Commission | Industrial Affairs, Energy, Research and Science (vice-president) | |
Karl-Heinz Narjes | Germany | 1985–1989 | Delors Commission I | Industry, information technology and science and research (vice-president) | |
Filippo Maria Pandolfi | Italy | 1989–1993 | Delors Commission II | Science, research, development, telecommunications and innovation | |
Antonio Ruberti | Italy | 1993–1995 | Delors Commission III | Science, research, technological development and education (vice-president) | |
Édith Cresson | France | 1995–1999 | Santer Commission | Research, Science and Technology | |
Philippe Busquin | Belgium | 1999–2004 | Prodi Commission | Research | |
Louis Michel | Belgium | 2004 | |||
Janez Potočnik | Slovenia | 2004–2010 | Barroso Commission I | Science and Research | |
Máire Geoghegan-Quinn | Ireland | 2010–2014 | Barroso Commission II | Research, Innovation and Science | |
Carlos Moedas | Portugal | 2014–2019 | Juncker Commission | Research, Science and Innovation | |
Mariya Gabriel | Bulgaria | nominated | Von der Leyen Commission | Innovation and Youth | |
Maroš Šefčovič | Slovakia | nominated | Interinstitutional Relations and Foresight (Vice-President) |
Defence Union
The Commissioner for Security Union was created in 2016.
Name | Country | Period | Commission | Portoflio actual name | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Franco Frattini | Italy | 2004–2008 | Barroso Commission I | Justice, Freedom and Security (vice-president) | |
Jacques Barrot | France | 2008–2009 | |||
Julian King | United Kingdom | 2016–2019 | Juncker Commission | Security Union | |
Margaritis Schinas | Greece | 2019 Onwards | Von der Leyen Commission | Protecting our European Way of Life (vice-president) |
Statistics, Audit and Anti-Fraud
The Commissioner for Taxation, Customs, Statistics, Audit and Anti-Fraud is responsible for the EU's customs union and taxation policy. The European Union has had a customs union since the creation of the European Economic Community and that union extends to the non-EU members of the European Economic Area and to Turkey, Andorra and San Marino. Since 2010 it gained responsibility for audit (budgetary discharge, internal audit, counter fraud): in particular the Internal Audit Service and the European Anti-fraud Office.
Name | Country | Period | Commission | Portoflio actual name | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Anita Gradin | Sweden | 1995–1999 | Santer Commission | Immigration, Justice & Home Affairs, Financial Control, Anti-fraud and Relations with the European Ombudsman. | |
Frits Bolkestein | Netherlands | 1999–2004 | Prodi Commission | Internal Market | |
Neil Kinnock | United Kingdom | 1999–2004 | Administrative reform | ||
László Kovács | Hungary | 2004–2009 | Barroso Commission I | Taxation and Customs Union | |
Siim Kallas | Estonia | 2004–2010 | Administrative Affairs, Audit and Anti-Fraud | ||
Algirdas Šemeta | Lithuania | 2010–2014 | Barroso Commission II | Taxation and Customs Union, Audit and Anti-Fraud | |
Pierre Moscovici | France | 2014–2019 | Juncker Commission | Economic and Financial Affairs, Taxation and Customs | |
Paolo Gentiloni | Italy | 2019 Onwards | Von der Leyen Commission | Economy | |
Didier Reynders | Belgium | nominated | Justice |
Trade
The Commissioner for Trade is responsible for the EU's external trade policy. Due to the size of the European economy, being the world's largest market and having a huge slice of world trade, this position can be very important in dealing with other world economic powers such as China or the United States. Former Commissioner Leon Brittan commented that "Frankly, it is more important than most [national] cabinet jobs".[21] The Commissioner leads Europe in organisations such as the World Trade Organization (WTO). Concluding WTO talks after the collapse of the Doha Development Round has been a contentious point, with the EU not willing to cut agricultural subsidies without similar action by the United States. The related DG is Directorate-General for Trade.
Name | Country | Period | Commission | Portoflio actual name | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Willy De Clercq | Belgium | 1985–1989 | Delors Commission I | External relations and trade policy | |
Frans Andriessen | Netherlands | 1989–1992 | Delors Commission II | External relations and trade policy (vice-president) | |
Leon Brittan | United Kingdom | 1992–1994 | Delors Commission III | External economic affairs and trade policy (vice-president) | |
1994–1999 | Santer Commission | Commercial Policy and External Relations (vice-president) | |||
Pascal Lamy | France | 1999–2004 | Prodi Commission | Trade | |
Danuta Hübner | Poland | 2004 | |||
Peter Mandelson | United Kingdom | 2004–2008 | Barroso Commission I | ||
Catherine Ashton | United Kingdom | 2008–2010 | |||
Karel De Gucht | Belgium | 2010–2014 | Barroso Commission II | ||
Cecilia Malmström | Sweden | 2014–2019 | Juncker Commission | ||
Phil Hogan | Ireland | 2019–2020 | Von der Leyen Commission | ||
Valdis Dombrovskis | Latvia | 2020 Onwards |
Transport
The portfolio is responsible for the development of transport infrastructure in the EU such as road and rail networks but also navigation systems such as the Galileo positioning system.
Name | Country | Period | Commission | Portoflio actual name | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Michel Rasquin | Luxembourg | 1958 | Hallstein Commission | ||
Lambert Schaus | Luxembourg | 1958–1967 | Hallstein Commission | ||
Victor Bodson | Luxembourg | 1967–1970 | Rey Commission | ||
Albert Coppé | Belgium | 1970–1973 | Malfatti Commission, Mansholt Commission | ||
Carlo Scarascia-Mugnozza | Italy | 1973–1977 | Ortoli Commission | ||
Richard Burke | Ireland | 1977–1981 | Jenkins Commission | Taxation, Consumer Affairs, Transport | |
Giorgos Kontogeorgis | Greece | 1981–1985 | Thorn Commission | Transport, Fisheries and Tourism | |
Stanley Clinton Davis | United Kingdom | 1985–1989 | Delors Commission I | Environment, Consumer Protection and Transport | |
Karel Van Miert | Belgium | 1989–1992 | Delors Commission II | Transport and Consumer Protection | |
Abel Matutes | Spain | 1993–1994 | Delors Commission III | Transport and Energy | |
Marcelino Oreja | Spain | 1994–1995 | |||
Neil Kinnock | United Kingdom | 1995–1999 | Santer Commission | Transport, including TEN | |
Loyola de Palacio | Spain | 1999–2004 | Prodi Commission | Inter-Institutional Relations and Administration, Transport and Energy (vice-president) | |
Jacques Barrot | France | 2004–2008 | Barroso Commission I | Transport | |
Antonio Tajani | Italy | 2008–2010 | Transport (vice-president) | ||
Siim Kallas | Estonia | 2010–2014 | Barroso Commission II | ||
Violeta Bulc | Slovenia | 2014–2019 | Juncker Commission | Transport | |
Adina Ioana Vălean | Romania | 2019 Onwards | Von der Leyen Commission |
Historical portfolios
Many portfolios have been combined and split under different president's, below is a few of the previous posts that have since been abolished.
Administrative Affairs, Audit and Anti-Fraud
The Commissioner for Administrative Affairs, Audit and Anti-Fraud was in the first Barroso Commission and was responsible for the commission's internal administration and anti-fraud efforts.
Its administrative duties included management of some of the commission's Internal Services; in particular consolidation of administrative reform, personnel and administration, European Schools and security. The Commissioner is also responsible for the following departments; the Directorate-General for Personnel and Administration, the Office for the Administration and Payment of Individual Entitlement, the Directorate-General for Informatics, the Office of Infrastructure and Logistics, and relations with the European Personnel Selection Office.[14] Its other responsibilities were for audit (budgetary discharge, internal audit, counter fraud): in particular the Internal Audit Service and the European Anti-fraud Office.
Name | Country | Period | Commission |
---|---|---|---|
Michael O'Kennedy | Ireland | 1981–1982 | Thorn Commission |
Richard Burke | Ireland | 1982–1985 | Thorn Commission |
Henning Christophersen | Denmark | 1985–1988 | Delors Commission |
Peter Schmidhuber | Germany | 1988–1994 | Delors Commission |
Erkki Liikanen | Finland | 1994–1999 | Santer Commission |
Neil Kinnock | United Kingdom | 1999–2004 | Prodi Commission (Audit) |
Siim Kallas | Estonia | 2004–2009 | Barroso Commission |
Administrative Reform
A position created for the Prodi Commission in the wake of the Santer Commission corruption scandal.
Agriculture and Fisheries
This position used deal with the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). It existed when the CFP was created in the Jenkins until the Thorn Commission when it was split into Agriculture and Rural Affairs and Fisheries and Maritime Affairs.
Communication strategy
The Communication strategy portfolio in the first Barroso Commission existed between 2004 and 2010 combined with Institutional Relations. Under the second Barroso Commission this was dropped as it had no powers and was open to allegations of propaganda.
Consumer Protection
The Commissioner for Consumer Protection was responsible for protecting the rights of consumers vs corporations between 2007 and 2010. The only Commissioner was Meglena Kuneva (ALDE).
This specific portfolio was created in 2007, separated from the Health portfolio. However, it first appeared in the Jenkins Commission as "Consumer Affairs" though the Barroso Commission was the first time it has been an independent portfolio. The independent portfolio was created when Bulgaria and Romania joined the European Union on 1 January 2007. It used to be part of the Health and Consumer Protection portfolio which was held by Markos Kyprianou. Unlike the Multilingualism portfolio that was created for Leonard Orban, this post was welcomed due to the large size of the combined portfolio. The Directorate-General is still merged with that office. In 2010 it was recombined with Health in the second Barroso Commission.
External Relations
The Commissioner for External Relations, known as the Commissioner for External Relations and the European Neighbourhood Policy at its demise dealt with general foreign relations and representation of the Commission abroad. It occasionally took on related responsibilities such as enlargement or neighbourhood policy, though most of the time other separate external relations portfolios existed such as development or trade. Early on external relations were split according to geography between various Commissioners. On 1 December 2009 its responsibilities were merged into the High Representative.
Energy, Euratom Supply Agency, SMEs and Tourism
An expanded version of the Energy portfolio in the Santer Commission, including parts of Industry (SMEs) and Tourism which has only appeared under Santer.
Health
The Commissioner for Health existed between 2007 and 2010 when it was split off from Consumer Protection for the new Bulgarian Commissioner. It was recombined under the succeeding Commission in 2010.
Justice, Freedom and Security
The Justice, Freedom and Security portfolio was roughly on the former third pillar: Police and Judicial Co-operation in Criminal Matters. The position covers such matters as judicial matters, human rights, equality laws, immigration control, policing and citizenship (see Area of freedom, security and justice). The relevant DG was Directorate-General for Justice, Freedom and Security.
As a concession to the liberals, Barroso split the post in 2010 into the Commissioner for Home Affairs (the security aspect) and the Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship (the human rights aspect).
Previous commissioners:
Name | Country | Period | Commission |
---|---|---|---|
Anita Gradin | Sweden | 1995–1999 | Santer Commission |
António Vitorino | Portugal | 1999–2004 | Prodi Commission |
Franco Frattini | Italy | 2004–2008 | Barroso Commission |
Jacques Barrot | France | 2008–2010 | Barroso Commission |
Multilingualism
The Commissioner for Multilingualism was responsible for language policy of the European Union, i.e., promoting multilingualism for the citizens and the institutions of the EU. It was created on 1 January 2007 during the Barroso Commission. The only commissioner is Leonard Orban (2007–2010). The post was created on 1 January 2007, in the enlarged Barroso Commission after the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the EU. Multilingualism had been a responsibility of the European Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and Multilingualism (held by Ján Figeľ between 2004 and 2007). Under the second Barroso Commission, the post was re-merged into the education and culture portfolio (held by Androulla Vassiliou).
The new portfolio was criticised for vagueness and ambiguity, it has been claimed that the post overlaps with responsibilities of other Commissioners. The Conference of Presidents of the European Parliament has asked the current president of the Commission José Manuel Barroso to clarify the mandate of Commissioner for Multilingualism[22] and of other members of the commission with regards to the "intercultural dialogue".
European Parliament Socialist Group (PES) leader Martin Schulz suggested a portfolio for the protection of ethnic minorities instead. His party suggested the introduction of the protection of the Roma minority.[23] Barroso turned down the PES proposal and defended the post. He stated that Commissioner for Education, Training and Culture Ján Figeľ "will remain responsible for the management of actions to directly promote the inter-cultural dialogue".[24]
Politically, the portfolio was mainly focused on promoting foreign languages learning as means for worker's mobility and business competitiveness rather than emphasizing language rights of speakers of regional, minority, lesser-used and migrant languages. Commissioner for Multilingualism is also responsible, alongside the President of the Commission, Barroso, and the European Commissioner for Education, Training and Culture, Ján Figeľ to work on "intercultural dialogue", including the 2008 European Year of Intercultural Dialogue.
Administratively, Commissioner for Multilingualism was in charge of the Directorate-General for Translation, the DG for Interpretation and the Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, as well as for the Multilingualism policy unit (EAC-C-5) in the DG for Education and Culture, with 3,400 staff in total – about 15 per cent of the Brussels executive's workforce- and with about 1 percent of the EU budget.
References
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- ^ `.eu' Domain Names Top 2.5M in Year One Huffington Post
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- ^ a b 'Big three' strike deal on super commissioner, French VAT cuts, 1% ceiling EurActiv.com
- ^ a b The New Commission – Some Initial Thought Archived 23 September 2006 at the Wayback Machine BM Brussels
- ^ "Press corner". European Commission - European Commission. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
- ^ "Von der Leyen chooses 'woman from EPP' as Bulgarian commissioner". www.euractiv.com. 29 June 2023. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
- ^ See also 2007 Russia–Belarus energy dispute and Russia–Ukraine gas disputes
- ^ a b "The Commissioners – Profiles, Portfolios and Homepages". ec.europa.eu.
- ^ European Union CIA World Factbook
- ^ EU Glossary Archived 9 September 2010 at the Wayback Machine Europa (web portal)
- ^ Consultation on Maritime Policy Archived 19 May 2007 at the Wayback Machine European Commission
- ^ Green paper Archived 25 March 2007 at the Wayback Machine European Commission
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- ^ "Building an information society on par with post-war reconstruction, says EU". IT PRO. 12 April 2007. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
- ^ The New Commission – Some initial thoughts Archived 23 September 2006 at the Wayback Machine BM Brussels
- ^ "Conference of Presidents gives positive assessment of hearings and seeks clarification of Mr Orban's portfolio" (PDF). europarl.europa.eu.
- ^ "Socialists criticise new commissioner's portfolio". EurActiv. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
- ^ "MEPs back Romanian commissioner despite 'indecent' job task". 6 December 2006.