The Evolution of the Competences of the European Commission

This paper aims to present the evolution of the European Commission from 1965, of the Merger Treaty in Brussels until 2000 with the signing of the Treaty of Nice. I begin by presenting the Commission’s role within the institutional system of the European Union, define the notion of ‘competence’ and explain how the institution has evolved in parallel with the need for progress of the European Union. Present theory in the scientific literature on this subject was, finally, exposed to potential changes made by the Treaty of Lisbon as regards the powers of the Commission. I consider this theme relevant in that it helps in understanding the relationship between the enlargement of the EU treaties and amendments and, implicitly, the European Commission in particular.