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 The commission took office on 16 September 1999 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".Prodi to Have Wide, New Powers as Head of the European Commission iht.com 16 April 1999Commentary: Romano Prodi: Europe's First Prime Minister? (int'l edition) Businessweek.com 1999
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.Discover the former Presidents: The Prodi Commission, Europa (web portal), retrieved 23 August 2007 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.BM: The new Commission – some initial thoughts bmbrussels.be 2004
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
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 alignment1999 to 2003Joined on 4 MayNovember 2004Social Democrats (PES)1008Liberals (ELDR)226Centre-right (EPP-ED)539Greens (EGP)101Independent256
Initial College +Commissioner PortraitPortfolioStatePartyNotesRomano ProdiPresident ItalyELDRNational: ID/DLNeil KinnockVice-President; Administrative Reform United KingdomPESNational: LabourLoyola de PalacioVice-President; Inter-Institutional Relations and Administration, Transport and Energy SpainEPPNational: PPMario MontiCompetition ItalyIndependentFranz FischlerAgriculture and Fisheries AustriaEPPNational: ÖVPErkki LiikanenEnterprise and Information Society FinlandPESNational: SDPServed until 12 July 2004Olli RehnEnterprise and Information Society FinlandELDRNational: KeskustaServed from 12 July 2004Frits BolkesteinInternal Market NetherlandsELDRNational: VVDPhilippe BusquinResearch BelgiumPESNational: PSServed until July 2004Louis MichelResearch BelgiumELDRNational: MRServed from July 2004Poul NielsonDevelopment and Humanitarian Aid DenmarkPESNational: SDGünter VerheugenEnlargement GermanyPESNational: SPDChris PattenExternal Relations United KingdomEDNational: ConservativesPascal LamyTrade FrancePESNational: PSDavid Byrne Health and Consumer Protection IrelandIndependentViviane RedingEducation and Culture LuxembourgEPPNational: CSVMichaele SchreyerBudget GermanyEGPNational: DGMargot WallströmEnvironment SwedenPESNational: SAPAntónio VitorinoJustice and Home Affairs PortugalPESNational: PSAnna DiamantopoulouEmployment and Social Affairs GreecePESNational: PASOKServed until March 2004Stavros DimasEmployment and Social Affairs GreeceEPPNational: NDServed from March 2004Michel BarnierRegional Policy FranceEPPNational: UMPServed until April 2004Jacques BarrotRegional Policy FranceEPPNational: UMPServed from April 2004Pedro SolbesEconomic and Monetary Affairs SpainPESNational: PSOEServed until 26 April 2004Joaquín AlmuniaEconomic and Monetary Affairs SpainPESNational: PSOEServed from 26 April 2004
New commissioners from 1 May 2004 +Commissioner PortraitPortfolioStatePartyNotesPéter BalázsRegional Policy HungaryIndependentDanuta HübnerTrade PolandParty of European SocialistsNational: IndependentSiim KallasEconomic and Monetary Affairs EstoniaELDRNational: ReformJoe BorgDevelopment & Humanitarian Aid MaltaEPPNational: PNSandra KalnieteAgriculture and Fisheries LatviaEPPNational: VienotibaDalia GrybauskaitėEducation and Culture LithuaniaIndependentJanez PotočnikEnlargement SloveniaIndependentJán FigeľEnterprise and Information Society SlovakiaEPPNational: KDHMarkos KyprianouBudget CyprusELDRNational: DIKOPavel TeličkaHealth and Consumer Protection Czech RepublicIndependent
See also Bolkestein Directive Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe
External links President Prodi's Website Prodi Commission profiles, portfolios and homepages
References