Abstract

The essay is a historical introduction, with particular regard to the last two decades, to the administrative reforms undergone by the European Commission. These reforms are related to political processes and to changes in the structure, culture and administrative practice of the Commission, with continuity as a factor of major importance. Another distinctive feature identified is the profound personal influence exerted by the various presidents of the Commission, from Jean Monnet, who during the 1950s devised its administrative structure on the basis of the French and American models, to Delors and especially Santer, who in the 1990s achieved excellent results by introducing reforms in various sectors. With the presidency of Romano Prodi, emphasis has been placed on the openness of the Commission to the outside world - the press, the member states, intergovernmental organizations - and especially on the use of information technology: the Internet has opened to doors to anyone interested in the Commission's policy and administration.