Franco Maria Malfatti

Franco Maria Malfatti
3rd President of the European Commission
In office 1970–1972
Preceded by	Jean Rey
Succeeded by	Sicco Mansholt
Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office 4 August 1979 – 15 January 1980
Prime Minister	Francesco Cossiga
Preceded by	Arnaldo Forlani
Succeeded by	Attilio Ruffini
Italian Minister of Education
In office 7 July 1973 – 11 March 1978
Prime Minister	Mariano Rumor Aldo Moro Giulio Andreotti
Preceded by	Oscar Luigi Scalfaro
Succeeded by	Mario Pedini
Personal details
Born	(1927-06-13)13 June 1927 Rome, Italy
Died	Rome, Italy
Nationality	Italian
Political party	Christian Democracy
Religion	Roman Catholic

Franco Maria Malfatti di Monte Tretto (<phonos file="It-Franco Maria Malfatti.ogg">pronunciation</phonos>) (13 June 1927 in Rome – 10 December 1991), was an Italian politician and President of the European Commission.

Biography

A descendant of Philip IV of France and wife Joan I of Navarre, Malfatti was born in Rome. He was an important member of the governing council of Democrazia Cristiana (the Christian Democratic party) in which he became chief of political bureau, and covered several institutional charges.

In Democrazia Cristiana, he was a member of Dossetti's lobby, together with Amintore Fanfani, Aldo Moro, and Giorgio La Pira. In 1951 he was elected national representative for young members; in 1958 he was elected deputy for the district of Rieti and Umbria. He served as minister for Foreign Affairs (1979–80), Finance (1978–79), Instruction, Industry, State trades, and Mail and Telecommunications.

He was also the third President of the European Commission from 1970 to 1972. The "Malfatti Commission" began as the integration process was relaunched: the EC adopting a financial framework and competing the single market. There was also the beginnings of political cooperation, monetary cooperation and of enlargement as talks opened with Denmark, Ireland, Norway and the United Kingdom. He resigned from this post in 1972 to run for office in Italy.

In the 1980s he was chief of the Italian delegation in the European Parliament. Politically close to Aldo Moro's lobby, Malfatti was among the participants in Bilderberg meetings.

References

Political offices
Preceded by Jean Rey	President of the European Commission 1970–1972	Succeeded by Sicco Mansholt
Preceded by Oscar Luigi Scalfaro	Italian Minister of Public Instruction 1973–1978	Succeeded by Mario Pedini
Preceded by Arnaldo Forlani	Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs 1979–1980	Succeeded by Attilio Ruffini