Civil Service
A Commissioner can come under a great deal of influence from the staff under their control. The European Civil Service is permanent whereas a Commissioner is in office usually for just five years. Hence it is the service which know the workings of the Commission and have longer term interests. Strong leadership from a Commissioner, who knows the workings of their portfolio, can overcome the power of the service. An example would be Pascal Lamy, however the best people are usually kept by their national governments leading to less solid candidates getting the job.
Read more about this topic: European Commissioner
Famous quotes containing the words civil and/or service:
“The cause of civil liberty must not be surrendered at the end of one, or even one hundred defeats.”
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865)
“I can counterfeit the deep tragedian,
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Tremble and start at wagging of a straw,
Intending deep suspicion. Ghastly looks
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—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)