In this interview, Étienne Davignon, former Member of the Commission of the European Communities with special responsibility for the Internal Market, Industrial Affairs and the Customs Union, sets out the circumstances surrounding his appointment, in 1977, to the post of European Commissioner and refers to his professional experience within the European Commission which was presided, at that time, by British politician Roy Jenkins.

In this interview, Étienne Davignon, former Member of the Commission of the European Communities with special responsibility for the Internal Market, Industrial Affairs and the Customs Union, considers the importance for the European Commission of being able to participate in the meetings of the European Council and in the G7, the informal grouping of the Heads of State or Government of the United States, Japan, the Federal Republic of Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Italy and Canada.

In this interview, Étienne Davignon, former Member of the Commission of the European Communities with special responsibility for the Internal Market, Industrial Affairs and the Customs Union, considers the evolution in the institutional relationship between the European Commission and the European Parliament.

In this interview, Étienne Davignon, Member of the European Commission from 1977 to 1985, emphasises the political role of the Commission as the institution capable of fixing common objectives and defending the general interest of the Community.