European Commission - History

History

European Union


Politics and government of
the European Union
Parliament
  • President
    • Martin Schulz
  • Largest groups;
    • Joseph Daul: EPP
    • María Badía (Interim): S&D
  • 7th session
    • MEPs (736)
      • 2009-14 term
  • Bureau
    • Vice Presidents
    • Quaestor
  • Conference
  • Legislative procedure
European Council
  • President
    • Herman Van Rompuy
  • Parties
  • List of meetings
Council
  • Presidency
    • Cyprus
  • Configurations
    • General
    • Foreign
    • Economic
      • Euro
  • Legislative procedure
  • Voting
  • Secretariat
    • Secretary-General
      • Uwe Corsepius
    • COREPER
Commission
  • Barroso Comm.
  • President
    • José M. Barroso
  • Vice Presidents
    • Catherine Ashton
    • Viviane Reding
    • Joaquín Almunia
    • Siim Kallas
    • Neelie Kroes
    • Antonio Tajani
    • Maroš Šefčovič
    • Commissioners
    • Civil Service
    • Secretary-General
    • Catherine Day
Court of Justice
  • Court of Justice
  • General Court
  • Civil Service Tribunal
  • Members
  • Rulings
Central Bank
  • Central Bank
    • President
    • ESCB
    • Euro
    • EMU
    • Eurozone
Court of Auditors
  • Court of Auditors
    • Budget
    • OLAF]
Agencies
  • Agencies
Other bodies
  • Investment Bank
  • CoR
  • EESC
  • Ombudsman
  • National parliaments
Policies and issues
  • Budget
  • Four Freedoms
    • Economic area
    • Single market
    • Area of FS&J
    • Schengen
  • Policies
    • Agricultural
    • Energy
    • Fisheries
    • Regional
  • Citizenship
    • Identity
    • Pro-Europeanism
    • Euroscepticism
  • Integration
    • Supranationalism
    • Federalism
    • U.S.E.
    • Multi-speed
    • Opt-outs
    • Enhanced co-op
    • Withdrawal
Foreign relations
  • High Representative
    • Catherine Ashton
  • Ext. Action Service
  • Foreign Policy
  • Defence Policy
  • Enlargement
Elections
  • 1979, 1984, 1989
    1994, 1999, 2004
  • 2009 (last election)
  • 2014 (next election)
  • Political parties
  • Constituencies
  • Referendums
Law
  • Acquis
    • Primacy
    • Subsidiarity
  • Treaties
  • Fundamental Rights
  • Membership

The European Commission derives from one of the five key institutions created in the supranational European Community system, following the proposal of Robert Schuman, French Foreign Minister, on 9 May 1950. Originating in 1951 as the High Authority in the European Coal and Steel Community, the Commission has undergone numerous changes in power and composition under various Presidents, involving three Communities.

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Famous quotes containing the word history:

    “The greatest honor history can bestow is that of peacemaker.”
    —Richard M. Nixon (1913–1995)

    “In front of these sinister facts, the first lesson of history is the good of evil. Good is a good doctor, but Bad is sometimes a better.”
    —Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)

    “The best history is but like the art of Rembrandt; it casts a vivid light on certain selected causes, on those which were best and greatest; it leaves all the rest in shadow and unseen.”
    —Walter Bagehot (1826–1877)