Delors Commission
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The Delors Commission was the administration of Jacques Delors, the 8th President of the European Commission, over the Commission of the European Communities (European Commission).
It was composed of three separate Commissions: 1985 to 1988, 1989 to 1992 and 1993 to 1994. Thus it was the longest serving Commission and is also seen as the most successful. It was the only Commission to serve three times, and Delors served five two year-terms (as they were then)[1]. The third Commission was the first Commission of the European Union, the Maastricht Treaty having come into force in 1993.
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[edit] Achievements
The European Commissions led by Jacques Delors are regarded by some as the most successful in the European Union's history, a gold standard by which future Commissions are judged in giving the Community a sense of direction and dynamism.[2]
They gave a new momentum to the process of European integration. They 'completed' the internal market and laid the foundations for the single European currency. European Economic and Monetary Union was based on the three stage plan drawn up by a committee headed by Delors (the Delors Report). Delors and his Commissioners are considered the "founding fathers" of the euro. The groundwork and political persuasion was achieved through the work of the Commissioners leading to the signature of the Single European Act in February 1986 and the Treaty of Maastricht (1992). Delors' Commission oversaw a large degree of expansion. The membership of Spain and Portugal came first in 1985; then the fall of the Berlin Wall enabled the Reunification of Germany; and in 1995 came the accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden. The Delors Commission also prepared the opening to the eastern countries who later joined in 2004.[3]
In 1988 Delors addressed the British Trade Union Congress; his speech about a social Europe was pivotal in turning British Labour pro-European and the British Conservatives against it.[4]
In 1992, as Delors' second term was coming to an end, the International Herald Tribune noted the effect of the Delors Commission, and the need for a third term[5];
| “ |
Mr. Delors rescued the European Community from the doldrums. He arrived when Europessimism was at its worst. Although he was a little-known former French finance minister, he breathed life and hope into the EC and into the dispirited Brussels Commission. In his first term, from 1985 to 1988, he rallied Europe to the call of the single market, and when appointed to a second term he began urging Europeans toward the far more ambitious goals of economic, monetary and political union. | ” |
In contrast, the Santer Commission which succeeded Delors in 1995 was forced to resign over allegations of corruption and the Prodi Commission won little praise despite presiding over the 2004 enlargement and the implementation of the single currency.
[edit] Major events
The Commission was the longest serving executive to date and oversaw many events in the history of the Union.
- 1985: Greenland leaves the Community. Gravier ruling by the ECJ on non-discrimination by nationality.
- 1986: Spain and Portugal join the Communities. The Single European Act is signed. Marshall ruling by the ECJ on non-discrimination by gender. The European flag is adopted by the Communities, it is raised outside the Berlaymont.
- 1987: 30 years since the Treaties of Rome. Membership application submitted by Turkey. Single European Act enters into force.
- 1988: Delors asked to draw up a report on Economic and Monetary Union (the Delors Report). The Court of First Instance is established.
- 1989: Cowan ruling by the ECJ on non-discrimination by nationality. Delors report presented. Declaration of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms adopted by the Parliament. Third direct elections to Parliament held. Spain and Portugal join the European Monetary System. Berlin Wall falls, leading to agreements and accession of eastern countries. Lomé Convention signed.
- 1990: Commission meets for 1000th time. EBRD established. Schengen agreement signed. Reunification of Germany.
- 1991: Stoeckel ruling by the ECJ on non-discrimination by gender. ECHO established. Energy Charter signed. USSR dissolves.
- 1992: Maastricht treaty signed, Denmark fails to ratify. European Economic Area (EEA) agreement signed, Switzerland fails to ratify.
- 1993: Single European Market enters force. Maastricht is ratified and enters into force.
- 1994: European Monetary Institute established. EEA enters force. Committee of the Regions established. Accession negotiations for Austria, Norway, Sweden and Finland conclude. European Investment Fund established. Hungary and Poland apply to join. Fourth direct elections to the Parliament are held.
[edit] Members
The three Delors Commissions (generally known as "Delors I", Delors II" and "Delors III") had considerable continuity of membership and political balance, but there were nonetheless differences.
Delors Commission I.jpg
First Commission |
Delors Commission II.jpg
Second Commission |
[edit] Delors I
This Commission served from 1985 to 1988, although the Spanish and Portuguese members only joined as from their countries' membership of the European Communities on 1 January 1986.
[edit] Delors II
This Commission served from 1989 to 1992.
[edit] Delors III
This Commission served from 1993 to 1994. It was the first Commission of the European Union, with the Maastricht Treaty coming into force. Its short tenure was designed to bring the mandates of the Commission into line with those of the European Parliament.
[edit] Key
The colour of the row indicates the approximate political leaning of the office holder using the following scheme:
| affiliation | first term | second term | third term |
|---|---|---|---|
| right leaning / conservative | Eight | Six | Seven |
| left leaning / socialist | Six | Seven | Six |
| Centrist / liberal | Two | Three | Three |
| Green party | One | One | None |
| other / unknown | One | One | One |
[edit] Secretary-General
The Secretary-General of the European Commission throughout the three Delors Commissions was David Williamson.
[edit] See also
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ A Bit More Delors Could Revamp the Commission iht.com 21/01/92
- ^ THE NEW COMMISSION - SOME INITIAL THOUGHTS bmbrussels.be
- ^ Discover the former Presidents: The Delors Commission, Europa (web portal), Accessed 23 August 2007
- ^ How Europe splits the Tories, Nyta Mann BBC News 26/11/02, Accessed 28/06/07
- ^ A Bit More Delors Could Revamp the Commission iht.com 21/01/92
- ^ Portfolio shared with António Cardoso e Cunha after Portugal joined the Community (5 January 1986)
- ^ From 5 January 1986 after Spain joined the Community
- ^ From 5 January 1986 after Portugal joined the Community
- ^ From 5 January 1986 after Spain joined the Community
- ^ Until 1 August 1987, when replaced by Peter Schmidhuber
- ^ Portfolio shared with Abel Matutes after Spain joined the Community (5 January 1986)
- ^ From 22 September 1987, replacing Alois Pfeiffer
- ^ Portfolio shared with Abel Matutes after Spain joined the Community (5 January 1986)
- ^ Portfolio shared with Manuel Marin after Spain joined the Community (5 January 1986)
- ^ After April 1994, replacing Abel Matutes
- ^ Until April 1994, replaced by Marcelino Oreja
[edit] References
- European Commission archive of the Delors I Commission. "[1]" Retrieved 17 March 2007.
- EU Press release (1988). "Responsibilities of the members of the new commission". Retrieved Mar. 24, 2005.
- EU Press release (1992). "Composition of the new Commission". Retrieved 17 March 2007.
[edit] External links
- Delors Report ec.europa.eu
- Photos of the First Delors Commission ec.europa.eu
- Photos of the Second Delors Commission ec.europa.eu
- Photos of the Third Delors Commission ec.europa.eu
- History of the EU, 1985 europa.eu
- Multimedia on EU ena.lu
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