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• European Commission > Commissioners > President Barroso > Former Presidents > Rey

• Romano Prodi (1999-2004)
• Jacques Santer (1995-1999)
• Jacques Delors (1985-1995)
• Gaston Thorn (1981-1985)
• Roy Jenkins (1977-1981)
• François-Xavier Ortoli (1973-1977)
• Sicco Mansholt (1972-1973)
• Franco Malfatti (1970-1972)
• Jean Rey (1967-1970)
  

  "Our generation will be remembered for the efforts it made to reconcile the peoples of Europe (…), this gives us hope that the second half of the 20th century will be known and described to our descendants as one of the greatest times in human history, just like the Renaissance, the Reformation and the French Revolution."

• Walter Hallstein (1958-1967)

The Rey Commission

The Rey Commission (Belgium) held office from 2 July 1967 to 30 June 1970. It was the first single Commission of the European Community (EC), established by the Merger Treaty (1965). Jean Rey and his commissioners undertook to reinforce the Community institutions and, in particular, to increase the European Parliament’s powers. It campaigned in favour of universal suffrage for the assembly and this then became a reality in 1979. This Commission also saw the completion of the Customs Union (1968).

Jean Rey in profile

• Jean Rey was born on 15 July 1902 into a protestant family in Liege (Belgium), where he died on 19 May 1983
• Jean Rey was originally a barrister. He started his political career on the eve of the Second World War. Between 1954 and 1958, he took part as Minister of Economy both in the early development of the ECSC and in the negotiations that led to the Treaties of Rome. He then became a member of the Wallstein Commission where he was responsible for external relations. His participation in the Kennedy Round negotiations (1964-1967) gained him much recognition
• On a personal level, Jean Rey played an important role at the The Hague Summit in 1969
• Jean Rey is considered to be the “father” of the Community’s own resources (established by the Treaty of Luxembourg signed on 22 April 1970)
• As a member of the Liberal Reformist Party (a liberal party in Belgium) and of the Walloon Movement, he was one of the most vocal advocates of the federalisation of Belgium

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