On this day, 26 years ago, March 16, 1999 (January 29, 1999 in the lunar calendar), members of the European Commission resigned collectively. On the night of March 15, 1999, the 20 members of the current European Commission, chaired by former Luxembourg Prime Minister Jacques Santer, announced their collective resignation at midnight after three hours of discussion. Sant called it a "political action." This was the first collective resignation of the European Commission since the Treaty of Rome came into force in January 1958. The direct reason for the collective resignation was the report submitted by the "Independent Committee of Experts" on fraud, favoritism and improper financial management at the European Commission on the afternoon of the 15th. The 146-page report was harsh and accused the committee of serious fraud, nepotism and chaotic management. According to the report, 10 of the 20 members were involved in scandals to varying degrees. The most serious ones were: Mrs. Kresson, a member in charge of science and technology affairs and former French Prime Minister, who bent the law for selfish ends in the European professional training program; Spanish Marin, who cheated in the implementation of the EU's aid plan to Mediterranean countries; there were also Dutchman Van Den Broek, who was in charge of Eastern European affairs, and Italian Bonino, who was in charge of humanitarian aid. Even Santer was doomed. On January 14, 1999, after the motion of no confidence in the European Commission was rejected, the European Parliament decided to establish a five-member "Committee of Independent Experts". At that time, the European Parliament instructed it to submit its report by March 15 and review it on the 23rd. Due to the report's strict attitude towards the European Commission, the main party groups in the European Parliament had clearly expressed their intention to impeach the European Commission on the evening of the 15th, and the Commission had to take the initiative to abdicate. Of the six cases raised in the report, four occurred before 1995, before the establishment of this committee. Santer notified the European Council of his collective resignation on the morning of March 16, 1999.