Barroso opts for last minute 'face saver'

An eleventh hour face saving move by the President-Designate of the European Commission José Manuel Durao Barroso managed to diffuse an institutional crisis in the European Union yesterday.

Prior to the scheduled vote at the plenary session of the European Parliament on the approval of the new European Commission, Mr Barroso withdrew his original executive team in the face of a veto threat from the majority of MEPs.

The confirmation that Mr Barroso's new Commission will not take office as scheduled on November 1, following a row over comments made by Italian Commissioner-Designate Rocco Buttiglione, places the European Union in an unprecedented situation. European Parliament president Josep Borell said this delay took the EU into "virgin territory" and the legal position was unclear.

Addressing Parliament prior to the crucial vote, Mr Barroso announced he was postponing his proposal. "I have come to the conclusion that if a vote is taken today, the outcome will not be positive for the European institutions or for the European project". He told an unusual packed assembly: "In the circumstances, I have decided not to submit the new European Commission for your approval today". He said he needed more time to look at the issue.

In the final hours before the scheduled vote, it had become clear that Mr Barroso's new team faced certain defeat in Parliament. Mr Barroso refused to replace his nominated justice and security chief, Prof. Buttiglione, who irritated many parliamentarians with his comments on homosexuality and marriage.

The latest developments came after a series of meetings late on Tuesday and on Wednesday morning failed to overcome the deadlock. As of late Tuesday, nearly all 200 Socialists in the 723-seat Parliament and at least 50 Liberals were said to be preparing to vote against the Barroso team, along with smaller left wing and Eurosceptic groups.

In his statement Mr Barroso said: "I need more time to look at this issue and to consult with the European Council further so that we can have strong support for the new Commission, once finally approved". He added that "the last days have demonstrated that the European Union is an intensely political construction and this Parliament, elected by popular votes across all our member states, has a vital role to play in the governance of Europe".

Although it is not clear what will be Mr Barroso's next move, he will surely have to reshuffle or change some elements of his proposed Commission. In the meantime, the present Commission, headed by Italian Romano Prodi, will stay in office in a caretaker role until the issue is resolved and Mr Barroso eventually wins parliamentary backing.

A Council spokesman told The Times following the new events that "the Prodi Commission will remain in office as long as necessary". This was officially confirmed later on by Commission spokesman Reijo Kemppinen who told journalists that Prof. Prodi had agreed to stay on at the request of Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende "to ensure institutional continuity".

Maltese Commissioner-Designate Joe Borg will also have to wait. He will remain in the development portfolio until the new Commission is approved. Dr Borg told The Times he will have to cancel all his activities already planned in connection with his new designated portfolio of fisheries and maritime affairs. Dr Borg was planning to visit Scotland next week as part of his new duties but has now cancelled the trip.

Following Mr Barroso's decision, the head of the Socialists, Martin Schultz, immediately claimed victory. He said "the Commission needs a wide support and a small support is not sufficient". On the other hand, the leader of the European People's Party, Hans Gert Pottering, the only political force giving full support to the Commission President-Designate, said that Mr Barroso showed he is a strong leader. He stressed that the EPP group, the largest in the European Parliament, is loyal to Mr Barroso and that Mr Barroso will shortly return with proposals that will serve the interests of the European Union.

Sources close to the Commission said that the next days will be crucial in order to solve the problem. EU leaders will be meeting tomorrow in Rome to sign the new EU constitution and it is predicted that the Barroso Commission issue will dominate unofficial talks.

After Rome, EU heads of government meet in Brussels next week for an already planned EU summit. The next session of the European Parliament will take place on November 15. It is expected that at that session Mr Barroso will propose his new Commission.