Commission of the European Economic Community

Commission of the European Economic Community
source
Name	Commission of the European Economic Community
Native name	Commission de la Communauté économique européenne
Caption	The Berlaymont building in Brussels, the Commission's headquarters from 1967.
Established	1 January 1958
Preceding	High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community
Dissolved	1 July 1967
Succeeded	European Commission
Jurisdiction	European Economic Community
Headquarters	Brussels, Belgium
Key people	Walter Hallstein (First President)

Commission of the European Economic Community. The Commission of the European Economic Community was the executive branch of the European Economic Community from its creation in 1958 until its merger with the executives of the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Atomic Energy Community in 1967. Often called the Hallstein Commission after its first president, Walter Hallstein, it was instrumental in implementing the foundational Treaty of Rome and driving the early stages of European integration. Its work on establishing a customs union and developing common policies laid the groundwork for the modern European Union.

History and establishment

The Commission was formally established on 1 January 1958 following the ratification of the Treaty of Rome by its six founding member states: Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and West Germany. Its creation was influenced by the earlier High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community, designed by Jean Monnet. The inaugural Hallstein Commission took office that same year, with its first formal meeting held in the Castle of the Valley of the Duchess in Brussels. A key early milestone was the acceleration of the customs union timetable, agreed upon at a pivotal meeting in The Hague in 1960. The institution operated until the Merger Treaty of 1965 came into force, leading to its consolidation with other community executives to form a single European Commission in 1967.

Powers and functions

The Commission held the exclusive right to propose new Community law to the Council of the European Communities, making it the central agenda-setter for the European Economic Community. It was responsible for implementing the decisions of the Council of the European Communities and managing the Community budget, including the newly established European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund. As the "guardian of the treaties," it monitored member state compliance with the Treaty of Rome and could initiate infringement proceedings before the European Court of Justice. It also represented the community in international negotiations, such as those under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.

Composition and appointment

The Commission consisted of nine members, appointed by common accord of the governments of the member states for a renewable four-year term. The college included two nationals each from France, Italy, and West Germany, and one each from Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. Members, required to act independently of national interests, were led by a President, with Walter Hallstein serving two full terms. Other notable commissioners included Sicco Mansholt, responsible for agriculture, and Robert Marjolin, overseeing economic and financial affairs. The administrative body was organized into specialized Directorates-General, such as those for competition and the internal market.

Relationship with other institutions

The Commission worked closely with the intergovernmental Council of the European Communities, which represented member states' governments and held the ultimate legislative power. It presented all legislative proposals to the Council of the European Communities and attended its meetings. The Commission also answered to the European Parliamentary Assembly, presenting annual reports and responding to parliamentary questions. Its legal acts and decisions were subject to judicial review by the European Court of Justice, and it frequently brought cases before the court to enforce community rules.

Key policies and initiatives

A primary achievement was the rapid establishment of the customs union, eliminating internal tariffs ahead of schedule by 1968. Under Commissioner Sicco Mansholt, it developed the foundational Common Agricultural Policy, which included mechanisms for market support and structural modernization. The Commission also began enforcing the community's competition policy, ruling on cases involving companies like Grundig and Consten. It initiated the first steps toward a common external tariff and launched studies for future integration in areas like transport policy and regional policy.

Evolution into the European Commission

The separate executive bodies of the three European Communities were merged by the Merger Treaty, which was signed in Brussels in 1965 and took effect on 1 July 1967. This created a single European Commission and a single Council of the European Communities for the European Coal and Steel Community, the European Atomic Energy Community, and the European Economic Community. The last President of the Commission of the European Economic Community, Walter Hallstein, did not continue in the new combined commission, with Jean Rey becoming the first President of the unified European Commission. This institutional fusion was a critical step toward the streamlined governance structure of the modern European Union.

Category:European Economic Community Category:Defunct European Union institutions Category:1958 establishments in Europe Category:1967 disestablishments in Europe