Prodi Commission
European Commission from 1999 to 2004
title: "Prodi Commission" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["prodi-commission", "european-commissions", "1999-establishments-in-the-european-union", "2004-disestablishments-in-the-european-union", "romano-prodi"] description: "European Commission from 1999 to 2004" topic_path: "general/prodi-commission" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prodi_Commission" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary European Commission from 1999 to 2004 ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox European Commission"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| cabinet_name | Prodi Commission |
| cabinet_number | 3rd |
| image | Romano Prodi's commission.tif |
| date_formed | |
| date_dissolved | |
| political_party | |
| opposition_party | |
| opposition_leader | |
| election | 1999 European Parliament election |
| advice_and_consent2 | |
| predecessor | Santer Commission |
| successor | Barroso Commission I |
| :: |
| cabinet_name = Prodi Commission | cabinet_number = 3rd | incumbent = | image = Romano Prodi's commission.tif | image_size = | caption = | date_formed = | date_dissolved = | government_head = | government_head_history = | deputy_government_head = | state_head = | members_number = | former_members_number = | total_number = | political_party = | legislature_status = | opposition_cabinet = | opposition_party = | opposition_leader = | election = 1999 European Parliament election | last_election = | legislature_term = | budget = | advice_and_consent1 = | advice_and_consent2 = | incoming_formation = | outgoing_formation = | predecessor = Santer Commission | successor = Barroso Commission I ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d2/Belgique_-Bruxelles-Schuman-Berlaymont-_01.jpg" caption="Headquarters of the European Commission in Brussels"] ::
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".
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. 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.
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
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e0/Prodi_Commission_New.jpg" caption="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
::data[format=table]
| Independent | 2 | 5 | 6 |
|---|---|---|---|
| :: |
Initial College
::data[format=table title=""]
| Commissioner | Portrait | Portfolio | State | Party | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party}}" | Romano Prodi | [[File:Romano Prodi 2004.jpg | 70px]] | President | |
| National: ID/DL | |||||
| Party of European Socialists}}" | Neil Kinnock | [[File:Official portrait of Neil Kinnock, Member of the EC (cropped).jpg | 70px]] | Vice-President; | |
| National: Labour | |||||
| European People's Party}}" | Loyola de Palacio | [[File:Loyola del Palacio 2001.jpg | 70px]] | Vice-President; | |
| National: PP | |||||
| Independent}}" | Mario Monti | [[File:Mario Monti 2002 (cropped).jpg | 70px]] | Competition | |
| European People's Party}}" | Franz Fischler | [[File:Franz Fischler 1999.jpg | 70px]] | Agriculture and Fisheries | |
| National: ÖVP | |||||
| Party of European Socialists}}" | Erkki Liikanen | [[File:Erkki Liikanen 1999 (cropped).jpg | 70px]] | Enterprise and Information Society | |
| National: SDP | |||||
| European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party}}" | Olli Rehn | [[File:Hallitusneuvottelut 2023 2023-05-02 02 (cropped) (2).jpg | 70px]] | Enterprise and Information Society | |
| National: Keskusta | |||||
| European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party}}" | Frits Bolkestein | [[File:Frits Bolkestein 1999.jpg | 70px]] | Internal Market | |
| National: VVD | |||||
| Party of European Socialists}}" | Philippe Busquin | [[File:Philippe Busquin 1999.jpg | 70px]] | Research | |
| National: PS | |||||
| European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party}}" | Louis Michel | [[File:Louis Michel.jpg | 70px]] | Research | |
| National: MR | |||||
| Party of European Socialists}}" | Poul Nielson | [[File:Poul Nielson 1999.jpg | 70px]] | Development and Humanitarian Aid | |
| National: SD | |||||
| Party of European Socialists}}" | Günter Verheugen | [[File:Oliver Mark - Günter Verheugen, Berlin 2007.jpg | 70px]] | Enlargement | |
| National: SPD | |||||
| European Democrats}}" | Chris Patten | [[File:Official photo of Christopher Patten (cropped).jpg | 70px]] | External Relations | |
| National: Conservatives | |||||
| Party of European Socialists}}" | Pascal Lamy | [[File:Pascal Lamy, 2006.jpg | 70px]] | Trade | |
| National: PS | |||||
| Independent}}" | David Byrne | [[File:David Byrne 1999.jpg | 70px]] | Health and Consumer Protection | |
| European People's Party}}" | Viviane Reding | [[File:Viviane Reding 1999 (cropped).jpg | 70px]] | Education and Culture | |
| National: CSV | |||||
| European Green Party}}" | Michaele Schreyer | [[File:Michaele Schreyer 1999 (cropped).jpg | 70px]] | Budget | |
| National: DG | |||||
| Party of European Socialists}}" | Margot Wallström | [[File:Wallström EC 2004 (cropped).jpg | 70px]] | Environment | |
| National: SAP | |||||
| Party of European Socialists}}" | António Vitorino | [[File:António Vitorino 1999 (cropped).jpg | 70px]] | Justice and Home Affairs | |
| National: PS | |||||
| Party of European Socialists}}" | Anna Diamantopoulou | [[File:Anna Diamantopoulou 1999.tif | 70px]] | Employment and Social Affairs | |
| National: PASOK | |||||
| European People's Party}}" | Stavros Dimas | [[File:Stavros Dimas 2008 (cropped).jpg | 70px]] | Employment and Social Affairs | |
| National: ND | |||||
| European People's Party}}" | Michel Barnier | [[File:Michel Barnier 1999 (cropped).jpg | 70px]] | Regional Policy | |
| National: UMP | |||||
| European People's Party}}" | Jacques Barrot | [[File:Jacques Barrot 2004 (cropped).jpg | 70px]] | Regional Policy | |
| National: UMP | |||||
| Party of European Socialists}}" | Pedro Solbes | [[File:Pedro Solbes IMF.jpg | 70px]] | Economic and Monetary Affairs | |
| National: PSOE | |||||
| Party of European Socialists}}" | Joaquín Almunia | [[File:Joaquin Almunia Mercosul.jpg | 70px]] | Economic and Monetary Affairs | |
| National: PSOE | |||||
| :: |
New commissioners from 1 May 2004
::data[format=table title=""]
| Commissioner | Portrait | Portfolio | State | Party | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent}}" | Péter Balázs | [[File:Péter Balázs, 2009.jpg | 70px]] | Regional Policy | |
| Party of European Socialists}}" | Danuta Hübner | [[File:Danuta Hübner 2022 (cropped).jpg | 70px]] | Trade | |
| National: Independent* | |||||
| European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party}}" | Siim Kallas | [[File:Siim Kallas 2004 (cropped).jpg | 70px]] | Economic and Monetary Affairs | |
| National: Reform | |||||
| European People's Party}}" | Joe Borg | [[File:Joe Borg 2004 (cropped).jpg | 70px]] | Development & Humanitarian Aid | |
| National: PN | |||||
| European People's Party}}" | Sandra Kalniete | [[File:Flickr - Saeima - 9.Saeimas deputāte Sandra Kalniete (cropped).jpg | 70px]] | Agriculture and Fisheries | |
| National: Vienotiba | |||||
| Independent}}" | Dalia Grybauskaitė | [[File:Dalia Grybauskaitė 2010-03-11.jpg | 70px]] | Education and Culture | |
| Independent}}" | Janez Potočnik | [[File:Janez Potočnik, Strasbourg - Diliff.jpg | 70px]] | Enlargement | |
| European People's Party}}" | Ján Figeľ | [[File:Ján Figeľ 2011.jpg | 70px]] | Enterprise and Information Society | |
| National: KDH | |||||
| European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party}}" | Markos Kyprianou | [[File:Markos Kyprianou 2007.jpg | 70px]] | Budget | |
| National: DIKO | |||||
| Independent}}" | Pavel Telička | [[File:Pavel Telička.jpg | 70px]] | Health and Consumer Protection | |
| :: |
References
References
- {{CELEX. 41999D0627
- [http://www.iht.com/articles/1999/04/16/eu.2.t_0.php Prodi to Have Wide, New Powers as Head of the European Commission] iht.com 16 April 1999
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20010406003725/http://www.businessweek.com/1999/99_39/b3648256.htm Commentary: Romano Prodi: Europe's First Prime Minister? (int'l edition)] Businessweek.com 1999
- [http://ec.europa.eu/commission_barroso/president/history/prodi/index_en.htm Discover the former Presidents: The Prodi Commission], [[Europa (web portal)]], retrieved 23 August 2007
- [http://www.bmbrussels.be/box_bmnewcomm.php BM: The new Commission – some initial thoughts] {{webarchive. link. (23 September 2006 bmbrussels.be 2004)
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