Roy Harris Jenkins, Baron Jenkins of Hillhead, was a British politician and writer who served as the sixth president of the European Commission from 1977 to 1981. At various times a Member of Parliament (MP) for the Labour Party, Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the Liberal Democrats, he was Chancellor of the Exchequer and Home Secretary under the Wilson and Callaghan Governments.
Jenkins in 1977
Jenkins (left) as President of the European Commission with Queen Juliana of the Netherlands in 1977
Jenkins robed as Chancellor of Oxford University
Jenkins' grave in Cat Street cemetery, East Hendred, Oxfordshire
President of the European Commission
The president of the European Commission is the head of the European Commission, the executive branch of the European Union (EU). The president of the Commission leads a cabinet of Commissioners, referred to as the College. The president is empowered to allocate portfolios among, reshuffle, or dismiss Commissioners as necessary. The College directs the commission's civil service, sets the policy agenda and determines the legislative proposals it produces. The commission is the only body that can propose or draft bills to become EU laws.
President of the European Commission
Headquarters of the European Commission in Brussels (Berlaymont building)
Walter Hallstein, the first president of the Commission
President Mansholt opened the first enlargement talks with Denmark, Ireland, Norway and the United Kingdom
