The Mansholt Commission held office from 22 March 1972 to 5 January 1973. Two major events marked this mandate: the creation of the European Monetary Snake (24 April 1972) and the first EC enlargement (1 January 1973).
Sicco Mansholt in profile
Sicco Leendert Mansholt (Netherlands) was born on 13 September 1908 in Ulrum (the Dutch province of Groningen) and died on 30 June 1995 in Wapserveen (the Dutch province of Drenthe). Mansholt came from a farmer's family
Having completed his studies in tropical agriculture, he moved to Java in the Dutch East Indies (today’s Indonesia) where he started to work in a tea plantation. He returned to the Netherlands in 1936, unhappy with the colonial system. In 1937, he started his own farm
He was a member of the Dutch Labour Party (SDAP-Dvp A) throughout his political career
At national level, he notably served as Minister of Agriculture, Fishery and Food Distribution
At European level, he was Vice-President of the Commission and Agricultural Commissioner from 1958 to 1972. Even though he was only at the forefront of the Commission for a short while (less than one year), he will be remembered as the man responsible for implementing the CAP. He will also be remembered for setting the first reforms (The Mansholt Plan) which prepared the way for future developments in European agriculture
