European Commissioner for Enlargement
Encyclopedia
The Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy is the member of the European Commission
in charge of overseeing the accession process of prospective new member states
and relations with those bordering the
European Union (EU). The present Commissioner, as of February 2010, is Štefan Füle
.
Currently there are three candidate countries and six who have either applied for membership or are preparing via the Stabilisation and Association Process
countries. Most of them are located in the western Balkans
except Iceland and Turkey. Neighbourhood Policy is directed towards those members along the EU's eastern border and on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea
.
As Commissioner, Rehn has been involved with the enlargement to the western Balkans and Turkey, encouraging reform on those countries. 2006 saw the independence of Montenegro and separate accession talks starting with them.
In 2007 he welcomed the UN proposal on Kosovo by Martti Ahtisaari
which advocated near-independence to the region and would have seen separate accession negotiations with the Union.
The Commissioner has also been involved in the reunification of Cyprus
, bringing Northern Cyprus into the European Union. Rehn's head of cabinet is Timo Pesone and his deputy head is Maria Åsenius.
portfolio began to be created out of the regionalised foreign policy posts. In particular the Santer Commission
post for relations with central and eastern Europe as those countries began applying to join. The Neighbourhood Policy element was created in 2004 as part of the External Relations portfolio. When that portfolio was absorbed by the High Representative in 2009, Neighbourhood Policy was transferred to Trade and then to Enlargement in 2010 under the Second 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....
in charge of overseeing the accession process of prospective new member states
Enlargement of the European Union
The Enlargement of the European Union is the process of expanding the European Union through the accession of new member states. This process began with the Inner Six, who founded the European Coal and Steel Community in 1952...
and relations with those bordering the
European Neighbourhood Policy
The European Neighbourhood Policy is a foreign relations instrument of the European Union which seeks to tie those countries to the east and south of the EU into the EU...
European Union (EU). The present Commissioner, as of February 2010, is Štefan Füle
Štefan Füle
Štefan Füle is a Czech politician and diplomat, since 2009 European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy in the second Barroso Commission.- Early life :...
.
Currently there are three candidate countries and six who have either applied for membership or are preparing via the Stabilisation and Association Process
Stabilisation and Association process
In talks with countries who have expressed a wish to join the European Union, the EU typically concludes Association Agreements in exchange for commitments to political, economic, trade, or human rights reform in that country...
countries. Most of them are located in the western Balkans
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
except Iceland and Turkey. Neighbourhood Policy is directed towards those members along the EU's eastern border and on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
.
Rehn
Olli Rehn became enlargement commissioner in 2004, following the enlargement to 10 new countries. In 2007 he oversaw the accession of Romania and Bulgaria to the Union. In 2004 Candidate status was granted to Croatia, and in 2005 to Macedonia.As Commissioner, Rehn has been involved with the enlargement to the western Balkans and Turkey, encouraging reform on those countries. 2006 saw the independence of Montenegro and separate accession talks starting with them.
In 2007 he welcomed the UN proposal on Kosovo by Martti Ahtisaari
Martti Ahtisaari
Martti Oiva Kalevi Ahtisaari is a Finnish politician, the tenth President of Finland , Nobel Peace Prize laureate and United Nations diplomat and mediator, noted for his international peace work....
which advocated near-independence to the region and would have seen separate accession negotiations with the Union.
The Commissioner has also been involved in the reunification of Cyprus
Cyprus dispute
The Cyprus dispute is the result of the ongoing conflict between the Republic of Cyprus and Turkey, over the Turkish occupied northern part of Cyprus....
, bringing Northern Cyprus into the European Union. Rehn's head of cabinet is Timo Pesone and his deputy head is Maria Åsenius.
List of commissioners
The enlargementEnlargement of the European Union
The Enlargement of the European Union is the process of expanding the European Union through the accession of new member states. This process began with the Inner Six, who founded the European Coal and Steel Community in 1952...
portfolio began to be created out of the regionalised foreign policy posts. In particular the 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 ....
post for relations with central and eastern Europe as those countries began applying to join. The Neighbourhood Policy element was created in 2004 as part of the External Relations portfolio. When that portfolio was absorbed by the High Representative in 2009, Neighbourhood Policy was transferred to Trade and then to Enlargement in 2010 under the Second Barroso Commission.
| Name | Country | Period | Commission | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Günter Verheugen Günter Verheugen -Erler:At around the same time, photographs appeared showing him holidaying with Petra Erler, the head of his private office. A Commission spokesman backed him by saying "the private holidays of Vice President Verheugen in Lithuania this summer did not violate the rules applicable to members of the... |
 Germany |
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:... |
| 2 | Janez Potočnik Janez Potocnik Janez Potočnik is a Slovenian politician, currently serving as European Commissioner for Environment. He was formerly the Slovenia's Minister for European Affairs.... |
 Slovenia |
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:... |
| 3 | Olli Rehn Olli Rehn Olli Ilmari Rehn is a Finnish politician, currently serving as European Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs. He had previously served as Commissioner for Enlargement... |
 Finland |
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 |
| 4 | Štefan Füle Štefan Füle Štefan Füle is a Czech politician and diplomat, since 2009 European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy in the second Barroso Commission.- Early life :... |
 Czech Republic |
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 EnlargementDirectorate-General for Enlargement (European Commission)The Directorate-General for Enlargement is a Directorate-General of the European Commission. The DG Enlargement is responsible for the enlargement process of the European Union...
- Enlargement of the European UnionEnlargement of the European UnionThe Enlargement of the European Union is the process of expanding the European Union through the accession of new member states. This process began with the Inner Six, who founded the European Coal and Steel Community in 1952...
- Commissioner for External RelationsEuropean Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood PolicyThe European Commissioner for External Relations was a member of the European Commission with responsibility over the Commissions external representation in the world and the European Union's Neighbourhood Policy...
- Foreign relations of the European UnionForeign relations of the European UnionAlthough there has been a large degree of integration between European Union member states, foreign relations is still a largely inter-governmental matter, with the 27 members controlling their own relations to a large degree. However with the Union holding more weight as a single bloc, there are...
- European Union Association AgreementEuropean Union Association AgreementA European Union Association Agreement is a treaty between the European Union and a non-EU country that creates a framework for co-operation between them. Areas frequently covered by such agreements include the development of political, trade, social, cultural and security links...