Lionello Levi Sandri
Encyclopedia
Lionello Levi Sandri was an Italian politician
and European Commissioner
.
Upon completing his education in 1932, Levi Sandri entered a career as a civil servant in the Italian employment administration and was promoted to high-ranking posts at a young age. In 1940 he became a lecturer in industrial law at the University of Rome
. In the same year, he served in North Africa in the Second World War. Following the armistice on 8 September 1943 and the related events, however, he chose to join the resistance movement against Benito Mussolini
, where he came to lead the partisan
formation “Fiamme Verdi” (Green Flames) in the Brescia
region.
After the war Levi Sandri became involved in the Italian Socialist Party
(PSI). From 1946 to 1950 he was a member of the town council for Brescia. From 1948 he was a member of the party executive committee at a regional level. Moreover, he was the chief of staff in the Italian Ministry for Employment.
He later advocated the formation of the Party of European Socialists
.
He was appointed to the first European Commission
in December 1960 (or February 1961) as the successor to Giuseppe Petrilli
in the Hallstein Commission
and was responsible for the Social Affairs portfolio, in addition to overseas states and territories. He supported the equalisation of work and social rights between the EEC states. He continued as a member of the second Hallstein Commission (1962–1967), where he was a Vice-president from 1964, and as a member of the Rey Commission
from 1967 to 1970.
Politics of Italy
The politics of Italy is conducted through a parliamentary, democratic republic with a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised collectively by the Council of Ministers, which is led by the President of the Council of Ministers, referred to as "Presidente del Consiglio" in Italian...
and European Commissioner
European Commissioner
A European Commissioner is a member of the 27-member European Commission. Each Member within the college holds a specific portfolio and are led by the President of the European Commission...
.
Upon completing his education in 1932, Levi Sandri entered a career as a civil servant in the Italian employment administration and was promoted to high-ranking posts at a young age. In 1940 he became a lecturer in industrial law at the University of Rome
University of Rome La Sapienza
The Sapienza University of Rome, officially Sapienza – Università di Roma, formerly known as Università degli studi di Roma "La Sapienza", is a coeducational, autonomous state university in Rome, Italy...
. In the same year, he served in North Africa in the Second World War. Following the armistice on 8 September 1943 and the related events, however, he chose to join the resistance movement against Benito Mussolini
Benito Mussolini
Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini was an Italian politician who led the National Fascist Party and is credited with being one of the key figures in the creation of Fascism....
, where he came to lead the partisan
Partisan (military)
A partisan is a member of an irregular military force formed to oppose control of an area by a foreign power or by an army of occupation by some kind of insurgent activity...
formation “Fiamme Verdi” (Green Flames) in the Brescia
Brescia
Brescia is a city and comune in the region of Lombardy in northern Italy. It is situated at the foot of the Alps, between the Mella and the Naviglio, with a population of around 197,000. It is the second largest city in Lombardy, after the capital, Milan...
region.
After the war Levi Sandri became involved in the Italian Socialist Party
Italian Socialist Party
The Italian Socialist Party was a socialist and later social-democratic political party in Italy founded in Genoa in 1892.Once the dominant leftist party in Italy, it was eclipsed in status by the Italian Communist Party following World War II...
(PSI). From 1946 to 1950 he was a member of the town council for Brescia. From 1948 he was a member of the party executive committee at a regional level. Moreover, he was the chief of staff in the Italian Ministry for Employment.
He later advocated the formation of the Party of European Socialists
Party of European Socialists
The Party of European Socialists is a European political party led by Sergei Stanishev, former Prime Minister of Bulgaria. The PES comprises social-democratic national-level political parties primarily from Member state of the European Union, as well as other nations of the European continent. The...
.
He was appointed to the first European Commission
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
in December 1960 (or February 1961) as the successor to Giuseppe Petrilli
Giuseppe Petrilli
Giuseppe Petrilli was an Italian professor and European Commissioner.He was a non-politician appointed as the first Italian European Commissioner on the Hallstein Commission from January 1958 with responsibility for the Social Affairs portfolio...
in the Hallstein Commission
Hallstein Commission
The Hallstein Commission is the European Commission that held office from 7 January 1958 to 30 June 1967. Its President was Walter Hallstein and held two separate mandates.-Work:...
and was responsible for the Social Affairs portfolio, in addition to overseas states and territories. He supported the equalisation of work and social rights between the EEC states. He continued as a member of the second Hallstein Commission (1962–1967), where he was a Vice-president from 1964, and as a member of the Rey Commission
Rey Commission
The Rey Commission is the European Commission that held office from 2 July 1967 to 30 June 1970. Its President was Jean Rey.-Work:It was the first Commission of the merged European Communities. It was the successor to the Hallstein Commission and was succeeded by the Malfatti Commission...
from 1967 to 1970.