Resignation of the Santer Commission

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In 1999, the Santer Commission resigned from their posts at the head of the European Commission. This marked the first time a Commission had ever resigned. The Santer Commission, led by Jacques Santer, took office in 1995. After an investigation into allegations of corruption concerning individual EU commissioners, the entire commission resigned on 15 March 1999. The allegations were first made by Paul van Buitenen.

[edit] Édith Cresson

The Commissioner most criticised was the French appointed Édith Cresson. Due to her refusal to step down alone, alleging that all commissioners were involved in the same kind of nepotism as she committed, the entire Commission resigned. Cresson now faces action before the European Court of Justice for not honouring Article 213 of the EC Treaty and about a sum of 136,000 euros in illegally used money. Should the Court find her guilty her Pension as Commissioner could be cut or revoked.

[edit] Interim Commission

Manuel Marín, a vice-president of the Santer Commission, became interim president and formed the interim Marín Commission until the new commission - the Prodi Commission - was appointed, as scheduled, in November 1999.