The European Commissioner for Economic Affairs is the member of the European Commission responsible for economic and financial affairs. The position was previously titled Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs and the Euro and European Vice President for the Euro and Social Dialogue from 2014 to 2019. The current executive vice president is Valdis Dombrovskis (EPP).
Responsibilities
The post is responsible for the European Union's economic, financial and monetary affairs, often combined with similar portfolios. This position is highly important due to the weight the European Union has economically worldwide (See: Economy of the European Union). It has grown particularly with the late 2000s recession and is now having to deal with getting the EU's public finances back into shape, as many members are breaking EU rules on budget deficits.Who’s who in the new Commission, Financial Times November 2009
The DG responsible to the Commissioner is the Directorate-General for Economic and Financial Affairs, headed by Marco Buti.
There are a number of other economic-related Commissioner positions in the college: Industry and Entrepreneurship – Office abolished Internal Market – Office vacant Competition – currently Margrethe Vestager Trade – currently Valdis Dombrovskis Economy – currently Paolo Gentiloni Financial Programming and the Budget – currently Johannes Hahn Energy – currently Kadri Simson Consumer Protection – Office abolished
There have been suggestions from politicians such as Ségolène Royal that there should be an economic government for the eurozone,Royal v Sarkozy: The policies BBC News and at the start of the Barroso Commission Germany suggested an economic "super-commissioner"'Big three' strike deal on super commissioner, French VAT cuts, 1% ceiling EurActiv.com – which could see a change in this position. That idea however was dropped but the Enterprise and Industry Commissioner was strengthened in response.THE NEW COMMISSION – SOME INITIAL THOUGHT BM Brussels
In October 2011 the position gained added responsibility for the euro, particularly eurozone reform and bail outs, and was made a vice president.José Manuel Durão Barroso President of the European Commission Speech by President Barroso: Briefing on the conclusions of the European Council of 23 and 26 October 2011 European Parliament Strasbourg, 27 October 2011, European Commission
List of commissioners #NameCountryPeriodCommission 1 Robert Marjolin 1958–1967 Hallstein Commission 2 Raymond Barre 1967–1973 Rey CommissionMalfatti CommissionMansholt Commission 3 Wilhelm Haferkamp 1973–1977 Ortoli Commission 4 François-Xavier Ortoli 1977–1985 Jenkins CommissionThorn Commission 5 Henning Christophersen 1985–1995 Delors Commission 6 Yves-Thibault de Silguy 1995–1999 Santer Commission 7 Pedro Solbes 1999–2004 Prodi Commission 8 Joaquín Almunia 2004 Prodi Commission 9 Siim Kallas 2004 Prodi Commission 10 Joaquín Almunia 2004–2010 Barroso Commission I 11 Olli Rehn 2010–2014 Barroso Commission II 12 Valdis Dombrovskis 2014–present Juncker Commissionvon der Leyen Commission Ivon der Leyen Commission II
As Economic and Finance Commissioner, Robert Marjolin served in both Hallstein Commissions and Henning Christophersen served in all three Delors Commissions.
See also Economy of the European Union Eurozone & Euro European Central Bank European Union Budget OLAF European Court of Auditors Directorate-General for Economic and Financial Affairs
References
External links Rehn's website Almunia's archived website DG website