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A 'Vice President of the European Commission' is a position given to a Commissioner in addition to their usual portfolio. There are usually a number of them, selected by the Commission President though they have little extra power but are seen as important in appointments.
The 'First-Vice-President' usually takes on the main role of a Vice-President: taking over from the President in their absence. The current First-Vice-President is Margot Wallström who is also in charge of the Commissions communication strategy, thereby acting as a major public face of the Commission.^[1]
Under the European Constitution, now stalled, one Vice President would also be the new position of Union Minister for Foreign Affairs, appointed in part by the European Council like the President.

Contents

Barroso Commission

Historical Vice Presidents

External links

References

Barroso Commission

Besides First Vice-President Wallström, who is in charge of Institutional Relations & Communication Strategy, there are presently 4 other Vice Presidents in the current Barroso Commission^[2]. Only one is from the members who joined in 2004, the other three are from 3 of the four largest member states (the UK did not get a Vice-Presidency, but did gain the important Trade portfolio);

Historical Vice Presidents

★ Prodi Commission: Neil Kinnock (Administrative Reform) and Loyola de Palacio (Parliament, Transport & Energy).

★ Hallstein Commission: Sicco Mansholt (Agriculture), Robert Marjolin (Economics & Finance) and Piero Malvestiti (Internal Market).
:''See List of European Commissioners by nationality''

External links

★ European Commission Website ec.europa.eu

★ Commissioner Wallström's Website ec.europa.eu

★ Commissioner Verheugen's Website ec.europa.eu

★ Commissioner Frattini's Website ec.europa.eu

★ Commissioner Barrot's Website ec.europa.eu

★ Commissioner Kallas's Website ec.europa.eu

References

1. The new commission
2. Commissioner's corner