A solid component of catalyst for the (co)polymerization of ethylene and &agr;-olefins contains magnesium-carboxylate bonds and transition metal-carboxylate and can be represented by the formula: M1Mg(0.3-20)X(2-60)Al(0-6)(R—COO)(0.1-3)  (I) wherein: M is at least one metal selected from titanium, vanadium, zirconium and hafnium, X is a halogen excluding iodine, and R is an aliphatic, cycloaliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon radical, containing at least 4 carbon atoms. A description follows of the preparation of a solid component of catalyst (I) and its use in procedures for the (co)polymerization of ethylene and &agr;-olefins.