European Commissioner for Internal Market & Services
Encyclopedia
The Commissioner for Internal Market and Services is a member of the European Commission
. The post is currently held by Commissioner Michel Barnier
(European People's Party
).
single market
, promoting free movement of people, goods, services and capital
. Thus it is clearly a leading role but has become more complex as the single market for services has developed. A large area of work is now financial services, a politically sensitive topic for some member states (notably, the UK). The Commissioner controls the Directorate-General for Internal Market and Services
and the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market
.
led to criticism of bankers by many. Especially in France, there was a desire to more regulate the financial services sector, which in Europe is largely based around the City of London
. French President Nicolas Sarkozy
's declaration that Barnier's (then French foreign minister) appointment as Internal Market Commissioner was a "victory" produced considerable worry in the UK that France would use Barnier to push French inspired restrictive regulation upon the UK's financial centre. Although he has said that "we need to turn the page on an era of irresponsibility. We need to put transparency, responsibility and ethics at the heart of the financial system," he has tried to sooth worries in the UK and has reiterated his independence from national influence.
's stated priorities were;
Directives McCreevy was involved with include the directives on;
Commissioner Frits Bolkestein
(Netherlands
) served in the Prodi Commission
between 1999 and 2004. In addition to holding the Internal Market portfolio he also held Taxation and Customs Union. His head of cabinet was Laurs Nørlund.
Bolkestein is most notable for the Directive on services in the internal market
, which is commonly called the "Bolkestein Directive". The directive aimed at enabling a company from a one member-state to recruit workers in another member-state under the law of the company's home state. It was to help the development of the internal market
for services, the development of which has lagged behind that for goods.
However there was a great deal of concern about its effect on social standards and welfare, triggering competition between various parts of Europe. This led to significant protests across Europe against the directive including a notable protest at the European Parliament in Strasbourg
by port workers which led to damage to the building. MEPs eventually reached a compromise on the text and the Parliament adopted it on 12 December 2006; 2 years after Bolkestein left office, under the Barroso Commission
.
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
. The post is currently held by Commissioner Michel Barnier
Michel Barnier
Michel Barnier is a French politician of the Union for a Popular Movement and Vice President of the European People's Party . He is the current European Commissioner for Internal Market and Services...
(European People's Party
European People's Party
The European People's Party is a pro-European centre-right European political party. The EPP was founded in 1976 by Christian democratic parties, but later it increased its membership to include conservative parties and parties of other centre-right perspectives.The EPP is the most influential of...
).
Responsibilities
The portfolio concerns the development of the 480 million strong EuropeanEuropean Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
single market
Single market
A single market is a type of trade bloc which is composed of a free trade area with common policies on product regulation, and freedom of movement of the factors of production and of enterprise and services. The goal is that the movement of capital, labour, goods, and services between the members...
, promoting free movement of people, goods, services and capital
Four Freedoms (European Union)
The European Union's Internal Market seeks to guarantee the free movement of goods, capital, services, and people – the EU's four freedoms – within the EU's 27 member states.The Internal Market is intended to be conducive to increased competition, increased specialisation, larger...
. Thus it is clearly a leading role but has become more complex as the single market for services has developed. A large area of work is now financial services, a politically sensitive topic for some member states (notably, the UK). The Commissioner controls the Directorate-General for Internal Market and Services
Directorate-General for Internal Market and Services (European Commission)
The Directorate-General for Internal Market and Services is a Directorate-General of the European Commission. The main role of the DG Internal Market and Services is to coordinate the European Commission’s policy on the European Single Market, which aims to ensure the free movement of people,...
and the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market
Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market
The Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market , or OHIM is the trademark and designs registry for the internal market of the European Union. It is based in Alicante, Spain, and its president is António Campinos.- Task :...
.
Michel Barnier (incumbent)
Barnier's appointment was controversial for some. His nomination came after the late 2000s recessionLate 2000s recession
The late-2000s recession, sometimes referred to as the Great Recession or Lesser Depression or Long Recession, is a severe ongoing global economic problem that began in December 2007 and took a particularly sharp downward turn in September 2008. The Great Recession has affected the entire world...
led to criticism of bankers by many. Especially in France, there was a desire to more regulate the financial services sector, which in Europe is largely based around the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
. French President Nicolas Sarkozy
Nicolas Sarkozy
Nicolas Sarkozy is the 23rd and current President of the French Republic and ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra. He assumed the office on 16 May 2007 after defeating the Socialist Party candidate Ségolène Royal 10 days earlier....
's declaration that Barnier's (then French foreign minister) appointment as Internal Market Commissioner was a "victory" produced considerable worry in the UK that France would use Barnier to push French inspired restrictive regulation upon the UK's financial centre. Although he has said that "we need to turn the page on an era of irresponsibility. We need to put transparency, responsibility and ethics at the heart of the financial system," he has tried to sooth worries in the UK and has reiterated his independence from national influence.
Charlie McCreevy (2004-2010)
Charlie McCreevyCharlie McCreevy
Charles "Charlie" McCreevy is a former Irish politician. He was the European Commissioner for Internal Market and Services from 2004–2010. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fianna Fáil TD in 1977 and held the seat in Kildare until 2004 when he became Ireland's European Commissioner...
's stated priorities were;
- To maximize the potential of the Internal Market to boost growth and employment.
- To eliminate remaining barriers to an effectively functioning internal market for services across Member States.
- To deepen the integration of Europe’s capital markets and improve its financial infrastructure so that the cost of capital is reduced, the inefficiencies of fragmentation are minimized, and competition is intensified to the overall benefit of Europe’s economy.
- To ensure that existing internal market rules are properly enforced.
- To improve public procurement procedures to ensure that the European taxpayer gets value for money.
- To ensure an effective framework for the protection of intellectual property rights to encourage innovation in the new knowledge economyKnowledge economyThe knowledge economy is a term that refers either to an economy of knowledge focused on the production and management of knowledge in the frame of economic constraints, or to a knowledge-based economy. In the second meaning, more frequently used, it refers to the use of knowledge technologies to...
.
Directives McCreevy was involved with include the directives on;
- Services in the internal marketDirective on services in the internal marketThe Directive on services in the internal market is an EU law aiming at establishing a single market for services within the European Union . Drafted under the leadership of the former European Commissioner for the Internal Market Frits Bolkestein, it has been popularly referred to by his name...
- Patentability of computer-implemented inventions
Frits Bolkestein (1999-2004)
Frits Bolkestein
Frederik "Frits" Bolkestein is a retired Dutch politician of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy . He served as a Member of the House of Representatives from 16 January 1978, until 5 November 1982, when he became State Secretary for Economic Affairs from 5 November 1982, until 14 July...
(Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
) served in the Prodi Commission
Prodi Commission
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:...
between 1999 and 2004. In addition to holding the Internal Market portfolio he also held Taxation and Customs Union. His head of cabinet was Laurs Nørlund.
Bolkestein is most notable for the Directive on services in the internal market
Directive on services in the internal market
The Directive on services in the internal market is an EU law aiming at establishing a single market for services within the European Union . Drafted under the leadership of the former European Commissioner for the Internal Market Frits Bolkestein, it has been popularly referred to by his name...
, which is commonly called the "Bolkestein Directive". The directive aimed at enabling a company from a one member-state to recruit workers in another member-state under the law of the company's home state. It was to help the development of the internal market
Internal market
An internal market operates inside an organization or set of organizations which have decoupled internal components. Each component trades its services and interfaces with the others. Often a set of government or government-funded set of organizations will operate an internal market...
for services, the development of which has lagged behind that for goods.
However there was a great deal of concern about its effect on social standards and welfare, triggering competition between various parts of Europe. This led to significant protests across Europe against the directive including a notable protest at the European Parliament in Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
by port workers which led to damage to the building. MEPs eventually reached a compromise on the text and the Parliament adopted it on 12 December 2006; 2 years after Bolkestein left office, under the Barroso Commission
Barroso Commission
The Barroso Commission is the European Commission that has been in office since 22 November 2004 and is due to serve until 2014. Its president is José Manuel Barroso, who presides over 26 other commissioners...
.
List of commissioners
| Name | Country | Period | Commission | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Piero Malvestiti Piero Malvestiti Piero Malvestiti was an Italian politician who was a minister in successive governments in the 1940s and 1950s, a European Commissioner and President of the High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community.... |
 Italy |
1958–1959 | Hallstein Commission Hallstein Commission The Hallstein Commission is the European Commission that held office from 7 January 1958 to 30 June 1967. Its President was Walter Hallstein and held two separate mandates.-Work:... I |
| 2 | Giuseppe Caron Giuseppe Caron Giuseppe Caron was an Italian Christian Democratic Party politician who was a Minister in successive governments in the 1950s to the 1970s, and a European Commissioner. He was born in Treviso.... |
Italy |
1959–1963 | Hallstein Commission Hallstein Commission The Hallstein Commission is the European Commission that held office from 7 January 1958 to 30 June 1967. Its President was Walter Hallstein and held two separate mandates.-Work:... I & II |
| 3 | Guido Colonna di Paliano Guido Colonna di Paliano Guido Colonna di Paliano was an Italian diplomat and European Commissioner.-Biography:Born in Naples, Colonna di Paliano graduated in law in 1930 from the University of Naples.... |
Italy |
1964–1967 | Hallstein Commission Hallstein Commission The Hallstein Commission is the European Commission that held office from 7 January 1958 to 30 June 1967. Its President was Walter Hallstein and held two separate mandates.-Work:... II |
| 4 | Hans von der Groeben Hans von der Groeben Hans von der Groeben was a German diplomat, scientist and journalist and member of the European Commission.Von der Groeben was born in Langheim near Rastenburg, East Prussia.... |
 West Germany |
1967–1970 | Rey Commission Rey Commission The Rey Commission is the European Commission that held office from 2 July 1967 to 30 June 1970. Its President was Jean Rey.-Work:It was the first Commission of the merged European Communities. It was the successor to the Hallstein Commission and was succeeded by the Malfatti Commission... |
| 5 | Wilhelm Haferkamp Wilhelm Haferkamp Wilhelm Haferkamp was a long time member of the European Commission. Born in Germany, he was a social democratic politician. He was appointed by to the Commission by the West German government in 1967. He served in a number of posts including Vice President until 1985... |
West Germany |
1970–1973 | Malfatti Commission Malfatti Commission The Malfatti Commission is the European Commission that held office from 1 July 1970 to 21 March 1972. Its President was Franco Maria Malfatti.- Work :... , Mansholt Commission Mansholt Commission The Mansholt Commission is the European Commission that held office from 22 March 1972 to 5 January 1973. Its President was Sicco Mansholt.- Work :It was the successor to the Malfatti Commission and was succeeded by the Ortoli Commission... |
| 6 | Finn Olav Gundelach |  Denmark |
1973–1977 | Ortoli Commission Ortoli Commission The Ortoli Commission is the European Commission that held office from 6 January 1973 to 5 January 1977. Its President was François-Xavier Ortoli.-Work:... |
| 7 | Étienne Davignon Étienne Davignon Étienne Francois Jacques Davignon, Viscount Davignon is a Belgian politician, businessman, and former vice-president of the European Commission.-Career:... |
 Belgium |
1977–1981 | Jenkins Commission Jenkins Commission (EU) The Jenkins Commission is the European Commission that held office from 6 January 1977 to 6 January 1981. Its President was Roy Jenkins.-Work:It was the successor to the Ortoli Commission and was succeeded by the Thorn Commission... |
| 8 | Karl-Heinz Narjes |  Germany |
1981–1985 | Thorn Commission Thorn Commission The Thorn Commission was the European Commission that held office from 6 January 1981 until 5 January 1985. Its President was Gaston Thorn.-Work:... |
| 9 | Lord Cockfield |  United Kingdom |
1985–1989 | Delors Commission Delors Commission The Delors Commission was the administration of Jacques Delors, the 8th President of the European Commission. Delors presided over the European Commission for three terms The Delors Commission was the administration of Jacques Delors, the 8th President of the European Commission. Delors presided... I |
| 10 | Martin Bangemann Martin Bangemann Martin Bangemann is a German politician and a former leader of the FDP . He studied Law in Tübingen and Munich, earned a Dr. jur. in 1962, and qualified as an attorney in 1964... |
Germany |
1989–1994 | Delors Commission Delors Commission The Delors Commission was the administration of Jacques Delors, the 8th President of the European Commission. Delors presided over the European Commission for three terms The Delors Commission was the administration of Jacques Delors, the 8th President of the European Commission. Delors presided... II & III |
| 11 | Raniero Vanni d'Archiraf | Italy |
1992–1994 | Delors Commission Delors Commission The Delors Commission was the administration of Jacques Delors, the 8th President of the European Commission. Delors presided over the European Commission for three terms The Delors Commission was the administration of Jacques Delors, the 8th President of the European Commission. Delors presided... III |
| 12 | Mario Monti Mario Monti Mario Monti is an Italian economist and academic who is Prime Minister of Italy, as well as Minister of Economy and Finance, since November 2011. Monti served as a European Commissioner from 1995 to 2004, with responsibility for the Internal Market, Services, Customs and Taxation from 1995 to 1999... |
Italy |
1994–1999 | Santer Commission Santer Commission The Santer Commission was the European Commission in office between 23 January 1995 and 15 March 1999. The administration was led by Jacques Santer .... |
| 13 | Frits Bolkestein Frits Bolkestein Frederik "Frits" Bolkestein is a retired Dutch politician of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy . He served as a Member of the House of Representatives from 16 January 1978, until 5 November 1982, when he became State Secretary for Economic Affairs from 5 November 1982, until 14 July... |
 Netherlands |
1999–2004 | Prodi Commission Prodi Commission 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:... |
| 14 | Charlie McCreevy Charlie McCreevy Charles "Charlie" McCreevy is a former Irish politician. He was the European Commissioner for Internal Market and Services from 2004–2010. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fianna Fáil TD in 1977 and held the seat in Kildare until 2004 when he became Ireland's European Commissioner... |
 Republic of Ireland |
2004–2010 | Barroso Commission Barroso Commission The Barroso Commission is the European Commission that has been in office since 22 November 2004 and is due to serve until 2014. Its president is José Manuel Barroso, who presides over 26 other commissioners... I |
| 15 | Michel Barnier Michel Barnier Michel Barnier is a French politician of the Union for a Popular Movement and Vice President of the European People's Party . He is the current European Commissioner for Internal Market and Services... |
 Early Modern France |
2010 onwards | Barroso Commission Barroso Commission The Barroso Commission is the European Commission that has been in office since 22 November 2004 and is due to serve until 2014. Its president is José Manuel Barroso, who presides over 26 other commissioners... II |
See also
- Directorate-General for Internal Market and ServicesDirectorate-General for Internal Market and Services (European Commission)The Directorate-General for Internal Market and Services is a Directorate-General of the European Commission. The main role of the DG Internal Market and Services is to coordinate the European Commission’s policy on the European Single Market, which aims to ensure the free movement of people,...
- Office for Harmonization in the Internal MarketOffice for Harmonization in the Internal MarketThe Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market , or OHIM is the trademark and designs registry for the internal market of the European Union. It is based in Alicante, Spain, and its president is António Campinos.- Task :...
- European Commissioner for Competition
- European Commissioner for Enterprise and Industry
- Directive on services in the internal marketDirective on services in the internal marketThe Directive on services in the internal market is an EU law aiming at establishing a single market for services within the European Union . Drafted under the leadership of the former European Commissioner for the Internal Market Frits Bolkestein, it has been popularly referred to by his name...
- Markets in Financial Instruments DirectiveMiFIDThe Markets in Financial Instruments Directive as subsequently amended is a European Union law that provides harmonised regulation for investment services across the 30 member states of the European Economic Area...
External links
- Barnier's website ec.europa.eu
- Commission Internal Market website ec.europa.eu
- Internal Market and Services DG website ec.europa.eu
- Q&A: Services Directive news.bbc.co.uk
- Services in the Internal Market euractiv.com
- Archived McCreevy website ec.europa.eu
- Interview with Charlie McCreevy by Jamie Smyth ireland.com
- Charlie McCreevy, European Commissioner responsible for Internal Market and Services eupolitix.com
- Archived Bolkestein website ec.europa.eu