Die Europäische Kommission 1986-2000 : Geschichte und Erinnerungen einer Institution

Following the Fontainebleau relaunch in 1984 and then the arrival of Jacques Delors, who was able to rely on a reinvigorated relationship between Germany and France, the process of European integration accelerated, with the Commission playing a leading role. Three large-scale projects were launched under Jacques Delors: completion of the internal market; economic and monetary union; and opening up the EU to the countries of central and eastern Europe after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Under Jacques Santer and Romano Prodi the Commission took care to complete these projects or ensure their continuity, leading the preparatory negotiations on the establishment of EMU and the greatest enlargement in the European Union’s history, efforts to deepen the Community and discussions on European governance with a view to future accessions. New treaties were signed, substantially increasing the Community’s powers. However, difficulties with the ratification of the Maastricht Treaty also showed that the public had still to be convinced and that better public communication and information were needed. A total of 52 academics and researchers from more than 30 universities and research centres in Europe, the United States and around 15 countries took part in the drafting of this work. The authors had access to new Commission archives, and many witnesses to the events, former officials, Commissioners and Presidents of the Commission were interviewed. These new sources, both oral and written, constituted a wealth of documentation that enabled the researchers to shed new light on the work of the Commission between 1986 and 2000. A similar project has already led to the publication of two other works, the first dedicated to the years 1958-1972 and the second to the 1973-1986 period. This work is the third volume of a series, the first of which, The European Commission, 1958-72 — History and memories of an institution, was published in 2007, and the second, The European Commission 1973-86 — History and memories of an institution, in 2014. It is the result of a tender launched by the Commission, inviting a focus on the years between 1986 and 2000.-- Preface, Jean-Claude Juncker -- Acknowledgements, Vincent Dujardin -- A new golden age? The years from 1986 to 2000, Vincent Dujardin -- Part one The internal functioning of the Commission and its relations with the other institutions Introduction, Vincent Dujardin, Dieter Schlenker Chapter 1, Leadership in the Commission Chapter 2, The Secretariat-General Chapter 3, Major changes and colossal challenges: the directorates-general and staffing in the Commission Chapter 4, The challenges of housing the Commission: choosing a headquarters and the Berlaymont saga Chapter 5, The ‘horizontal’ services Chapter 6, The Commission and institutional reforms Chapter 7, Enlargements and the administrative culture Chapter 8, Commission relations with the other Community institutions Chapter 9, The budgetary revolution: from near bankruptcy to stability -- Part two, Economic policies and measures Introduction, Éric Bussière Chapter 10, Towards economic and monetary union Chapter 11, The internal market and competition Chapter 12, The networks Chapter 13, Industrial and research policy Chapter 14, The common agricultural policy and the common fisheries policy Chapter 15, Environmental policy -- Part three, Solidarity policies and measures Introduction, Antonio Varsori Chapter 16, European social policy Chapter 17, Regional policy: a new source of Europeanisation Chapter 18, European education policy Chapter 19, Justice and home affairs Chapter 20, The integration of East Germany and the enlargements Chapter 21, Trade policy and development policy Chapter 22, The Commission and the rest of the world Chapter 23, European foreign and defence policy -- Annexes Timeline — 1986-2000, Sophie Kaisin Commission directories, Sophie Kaisin -- Sources and bibliography Sources, Sophie Kaisin Bibliography, Sophie Kaisin -- Tables and index The authors Index of names List of acronyms and initialisms Credit