Europe, Headlines, Human Rights

POLITICS-EU: Institutional Crisis Drawing to a Close

Stefania Bianchi

BRUSSELS, Nov 5 2004 (IPS) - Incoming European Commission president Jose Manuel Durão Barroso tried to end the political crisis in the European Union Thursday as he unveiled his new team of Commissioners.

Three changes have been made, although members of the European Parliament (MEPs) had expressed concerns about five candidates after their parliamentary hearings in October.

Franco Frattini, Italy’s foreign minister, will replace Rocco Buttiglione, the controversial nominee for the post of justice and civil liberties commissioner.

Barroso endorsed Italy’s choice of replacement saying he was confident that the new candidate would perform well.

"He is an experienced politician and knows the EU institutions inside out. He did a successful job during the Italian presidency," he said.

Buttiglione, a member of the Italian Christian Democratic party and a friend of Pope John Paul II, caused outrage on the left with his conservative Roman Catholic views on homosexuality and marriage.

His nomination was rejected by the parliament’s civil liberties committee last month after he told a parliamentary hearing earlier that he believed homosexuality was a "sin" and that "marriage was for women to have children and be protected by their husbands."

Barroso, Portugal’s former prime minister, was forced to change his team after the European Parliament threatened to veto the entire proposed commission if Buttiglione stayed.

Frattini’s nomination should open the way for Barroso’s new commission to take office within weeks.

The European Parliament is the only directly elected EU body. The European Commission, the EU executive arm, was due to take over Nov. 1, but the crisis over Buttiglione has meant that incumbent commission leader Romano Prodi and his administration have been continuing on a caretaker basis until a new team is approved.

EU law does not allow the European Parliament to accept or reject individual members of the commission – it can only veto an entire team.

Barroso said he had done his best to quell the crisis between commission and parliament and that he is confident of support for his new line-up.

"I have worked hard over recent days to build bridges and find a balanced solution. It was not easy; I was faced with contradictory demands. But I have moved swiftly," he said Thursday.

"We’re back on track. We need to get back to work quickly. After this period of intense democratic debate, we now owe it to Europe’s citizens to meet their concerns head-on," he added.

In other changes Hungarian Laszlo Kovacs will switch from commissioner for energy to taxation and the new Latvian nominee Andris Piebalgs will take the energy post. MEPs had doubts about the Hungarian, who failed to convince his hearing he had sufficient knowledge or enthusiasm about the energy portfolio.

Barroso has not moved Neelie Kroes, the Dutch competition commissioner-designate. Some MEPs are concerned that her numerous past business activities represent a conflict of interest, but Barroso was quick to defend her candidature.

"I see no need to change Mrs Kroes’ portfolio. She’s an excellent candidate, she brings with her valuable experience," he said.

The dispute has not been a good start to the five-year term for Barroso’s commission. Barroso was hoping to kick off his ambitious agenda of promoting economic growth with a strong set of commissioners.

But many MEPs, even those who had opposed Barroso’s original line-up, congratulated the commission chief on his attempts to solve the institutional stand-off.

Josep Borrell, president of the European Parliament, was one of the first to do so.

"It was very important that the European Commission be presented to the Parliament with the shortest possible delay," he said.

The changes have also quelled concerns from some of the most outspoken MEPs.

"I congratulate Mr Barroso on his courage in insisting on respect for the concerns of the European Parliament," said Martin Schulz, leader of the Socialist Group who had led the rebellion against Barroso’s original choice.

"In return, I give Mr Barroso my pledge that the Socialist Group will do everything possible to ensure that the new Parliamentary hearings take place as quickly as possible and that a vote on the new College of Commissioners is settled in the course of this month," he added.

"Democracy is the winner from the past few weeks of conflict between the Parliament and the Commission," he said. "Our democratic processes showed up the deep flaws in the candidatures of Mr Buttiglione and Mrs Udre, and Mr Barroso has dealt with those problems to our satisfaction."

MEPs are expected to vote on the new commission team at the next plenary session which begins Nov. 15.