President of the European Commission - Definition and Overview

The President of the European Commission is the nominally highest ranking unelected official within the European Union. The President of the Commission is currently selected by the European Council. In recent years, EC Presidents have increasingly been former EU member state prime ministers.

Under the Treaty establishing a constitution for Europe, agreed but not yet ratified by all member states, future candidates for the President of the Commission will be put forward by the European Council and elected by the European Parliament, who have the final say.

Presidents

Presidents of the High Authority of the ECSC (prior to entry into force of Merger Treaty of 1967):

• Jean Monnet (France, 1952-1955)

Presidents of the European Commission:

1. Walter Hallstein ((West) Germany, 1958-1967), 1st President
2. Jean Ray (Belgium, 1967-1970)
3. Franco Maria Malfatti (Italy, 1970-1972)
4. Sicco L. Mansholt (Netherlands, 1972)
5. Francois-Xavier Ortoli (France, 1973-1976)
6. Roy Jenkins (United Kingdom, 1977-1980)
7. Gaston Edmont Thorn (Luxembourg 1981-1984) former Prime Minister of Luxembourg
8. Jacques Delors (France, 1985-1995)
9. Jacques Santer (Luxembourg, 1995-1999) former Prime Minister of Luxembourg, resigned
10. Romano Prodi (Italy, 1999-2004) former Prime Minister of Italy
11. José Manuel Durão Barroso (Portugal, 2004-) former Prime Minister of Portugal