European Commissioner for Enterprise & Industry

The Commissioner for Enterprise and Industry is Vice President of the European Commission. The current commissioner is Günter Verheugen (PES).

The post was enlarged from the "Commissioner for Enterprise and Information Society" portfolio in the Prodi Commission to include Industry. See below.

Current commissioner

At the start of the Barroso Commission Germany, backed by Britain and France suggested an economic "super-commissioner" [ [http://www.euractiv.com/en/agenda2004/big-strike-deal-super-commissioner-french-vat-cuts-1-ceiling/article-114814 'Big three' strike deal on super commissioner, French VAT cuts, 1% ceiling] EurActiv.com] to fight for competitiveness. Although rejected, this idea though has been taken on by Verheugen, as the Enterprise & Industry portfolio was enlarged and was made a Vice President. [ [http://www.bmbrussels.be/box_bmnewcomm.php THE NEW COMMISSION - SOME INITIAL THOUGHT] BM Brussels]

As Commissioner, he indicates his aim to increase the competitiveness of Europe, there is a separate Commissioner for Competition dealing with competition between companies within Europe. However with the numerous economic portfolios, there is a degree of overlap which has been a matter of concern for him along with the purported difficulty of firing director-generals.

Verheugen also chairs the "Competitiveness Council Commissionners Group" and is the vice chair of the "Group of Commissioners on the Lisbon Strategy". He is expected to be the European chair of the new Transatlantic Economic Council.

He has stated a desire to cut red tape, especially in order to make it more favourable to SMEs. He also highlights research and innovation as "twin keys to future competitiveness". He outlines his priorities as; better regulation, a modern industrial policy, SMEs and innovation. In order to promote competitiveness, he laid down three policies derived from the treaties; "Competitiveness and improvement of the business environment (Art. 157). Completing and managing the Internal Market for products (Art. 28 and 95) and Innovation and research framework programmes (Title XVIII)." [ [http://ec.europa.eu/commission_barroso/verheugen/mission/index_en.htm Mission Statement] ec.europa.eu]

The commissioner was heavily involved in work on the REACH directive and ensuring its compatibility with the Lisbon Strategy. [ [http://www.euractiv.com/en/innovation/interview-gunter-verheugen-vice-president-commissioner-enterprise-industry/article-143183 Interview with Günter Verheugen, vice-president and commissioner for enterprise and industry] euractiv.com] He sees a common patent in the Union implemented by 2012 which he sees as important as patent application for the 24 million SMEs in Europe are on average 11 times higher than in the United States. [ [http://euobserver.com/9/23898 EU patent in five years, says industry commissioner] euobserver.com]

Verheugen's head of cabinet is Petra Erler. His deputy head is Simon Mordue and his spokesperson is Ton van Lierop. There was a minor political row over Erler's appointment with allegations of her being appointed due to their friendship. These allegations were later aggravated over photos of them together on holiday holding hands, and then on a naturist beach together in Lithuania.

In response to the refusal of countries to sign the Kyoto protocol, such as the United States and Australia, Verheugen asked President Barroso to look into whether the EU could implement taxes on products imported from those countries not taking low-carbon policies on board (Border Tax Adjustments). [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/6524331.stm Time to tax the carbon dodgers] news.bbc.co.uk]

List of commissioners

*Erkki Liikanen (of Finland) - Prodi Commission (1999-2004)
*Ján Figeľ (of Slovakia) - Prodi Commission (2004)
*Günter Verheugen (of the Germany) - Barroso Commission (2004-2009)

ee also

* Directorate-General for Enterprise and Industry
* Lisbon Strategy
* European Commissioner for Economic & Financial Affairs
* European Commissioner for Competition

External links

* [http://ec.europa.eu/commission_barroso/verheugen/index_en.htm Commissioner's Website] ec.europa.eu
* [http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/index_en.htm Commission Enterprise and Industry Website] ec.europa.eu

References