MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

EU Parliament forces names changes in Commission

The incoming president of the European Commission admitted this Wednesday he will have to change his team of commissionaires following strong opposition in the 732 member European Parliament

Former Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Manuel Durao Barroso said necessary changes must be made after postponing a crucial vote rather than face a veto, an unprecedented event in the history of European institutions.

The incident emerged following some controversial statements regarding gays and women by Justice Commissar nominee Rocco Buttiglione, who Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is trying to rescue.

Mr. Barroso said this Wednesday after his speech asking the EP to put off the vote that the move does not represent "a victory for Parliament over the council (of Europe), since this isn't a soccer match". It's a matter of "supporting each other," because "we need a strong legislature, but also a strong commission and we can't impose our authority to the detriment of other institutions", adding that "necessary changes and sufficient changes must be made in the team".

The highest authority in the EU is the Council of Europe, composed of heads of state and government from the 25 member states. The Council named Mr. Barroso to head the Commission while individual national governments put forward commissioners.

After Mr. Barroso's strategic retreat, parliament president Josep Borrell, a Spanish Socialist, asked the president-designate "to make us a proposal that Parliament can decide on as soon as possible, without setting any timetable, but keeping us informed about those efforts".

Atzo Nicolai from the Netherlands stressed that "the Council has full confidence in Barroso as EC president"

The outgoing commission that was scheduled to leave next November 1 and headed by Italy's Romano Prodi, will remain in office until a new team is named and approved.

Although no announcements have been made, speculation is that the controversial Rocco Buttiglione might not be the only commissioner to go but rather one of several. "You can't point to just one person, since it applies to all commissioners named who haven't done well in the hearings", said Hans-Gert Poettering from Germany and leader of the EP Conservatives.

Mr. Poettering pointed his finger to several other nominees, Laszlo Kovacs in Energy; Neelie Kroes in Competition Policy; Ingrida Udre in Budget as well as Mariann Fischer Boel, a Dane proposed to head Agriculture.

The block position of the EP's 200 Socialists members regarding Mr. Buttiglione has been decisive in forcing Mr. Barroso to accept changes in his to cabinet. The leader of the group Germany's Martin Schulz urged the request "be taken seriously".

"Please do not propose the same commission again. We ask you to present a new proposal so that we can vote it favourably", indicated Mr. Schulz. Also opposing Barroso's team were 50 of the EP's 73 liberals.

Speaking for the liberal faction MEP Graham Watson from the United Kingdom said: "today this house on the Rhine grows in stature. Its will was tested: its will prevailed", adding that "we asked for no more that what was our right. We asked for our opinions to be treated with respect; tension over the Commission's cabinet has turned into a democratic debate".

MEPs from the Greens and the United Left coalition, which from the beginning staunchly rejected Barroso's nominees, praised his attitude towards Parliament.

Should Barroso propose new candidates for commissioners, Parliament will call them to the different commissions for questioning. After the review a vote on the full commission will be taken at a date yet to be determined.

Mr. Buttiglione an Italian and a devout Roman Catholic, who regards homosexuality as a sin, is considered "unsuitable" for the Justice post. Close to the Vatican, during his confirmation hearing in Brussels Mr. Buttiglione said he considered homosexuality "a sin", and the purpose of marriage "allow women to have children and protect males".

The EP cannot choose to reject Mr. Buttiglione alone since Deputies can only accept or reject the new 24 member Commission as a whole.