European Commissioner for Economic & Financial Affairs
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The Commissioner for Economic & Financial Affairs is the member of the European Commission responsible for the European Union's Financial and monetary affairs, often combined with similar portfolios. The current Commissioner is Joaquín Almunia (PSE).
The current head of cabinet is Gerassimos Thomas and the current Director-General is Marco Buti.
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[edit] Economic portfolios
This position is highly important due to the weight the European Union has economically worldwide (See: Economy of the European Union). However, there are several economic-related Commissioner positions in the College;
- Enterprise & Industry - currently Günter Verheugen
- Internal Market & Services - currently Charlie McCreevy
- Competition - currently Neelie Kroes
- Trade - currently Baroness Ashton
- Taxation & Customs Union - currently László Kovács
- Financial Programming & the Budget - currently Dalia Grybauskaitė
- Energy - currently Andris Piebalgs
- Consumer Protection - currently Meglena Kuneva
[edit] Changes
There have been suggestions from politicians such as Ségolène Royal that there should be an economic government for the eurozone,[1] and at the start of the Barroso Commission Germany suggested an economic "super-commissioner"[2] - which could see a change in this position. That idea however was dropped but the Enterprise & Industry Commissioner was strengthened in response.[3]
[edit] List of commissioners
- Robert Marjolin (of France) - Hallstein Commission (1958-1967)
- Raymond Barre (of France) - Rey Commission (1967-1970)
- Raymond Barre (of France) - Malfatti Commission (1970-1972)
- Raymond Barre (of France) - Mansholt Commission (1972-1973)
- Wilhelm Haferkamp (of West Germany) - Ortoli Commission (1973-1977)
- François-Xavier Ortoli (of France) - Jenkins Commission (1977-1981)
- François-Xavier Ortoli (of France) - Thorn Commission (1981-1985)
- Henning Christophersen (of Denmark) - Delors Commission (1985-1995)
- Yves-Thibault de Silguy (of the Republic of France) - Santer Commission (1995-1999)
- Yves-Thibault de Silguy (of the Republic of France) - Marín Commission (1999)
- Pedro Solbes (of Spain) - Prodi Commission (1999-2004)
- Joaquín Almunia (of Spain) - Prodi Commission (2004)
- Siim Kallas (of Estonia) - Prodi Commission (2004)
- Joaquín Almunia (of Spain) - Barroso Commission (2004-2009)
As Economic and Finance Commissioner; Robert Marjolin served in both Hallstein Commissions and Henning Christophersen served in all three Delors Commissions. The mandate of the Barroso Commission ends in 2009, though it may resign before then or receive a second mandate.
[edit] 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
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ Royal v Sarkozy: The policies BBC News
- ^ 'Big three' strike deal on super commissioner, French VAT cuts, 1% ceiling EurActiv.com
- ^ THE NEW COMMISSION - SOME INITIAL THOUGHT BM Brussels
