Barroso makes limited changes to Commission

Incoming European Commission President Jose Manuel Duro Barroso yesterday announced the new line-up of his EU executive team, aimed at resolving a row that has left Brussels in limbo.

"I'm pleased that I'm now in a position to present a new proposal for approval of the European Parliament," he told a press conference as EU leaders met in summit in Brussels.

He said now everything seemed to be "back on track".

As expected, Mr Barroso announced only three changes to the new Commission. The main one is the replacement of Rocco Buttiglione, the Italian nominee who was rejected by the Parliament for his controversial comments, with Italy's Foreign Minister Franco Frattini, who was given Prof. Buttiglione's portfolio of justice, freedom and security.

Mr Frattini is also being nominated as Vice-President of the Commission.

Mr Barroso also announced that Hungarian Laszlo Kovacs would switch from commissioner for energy to taxation and the new Latvian nominee, Andris Piebalgs, would take the energy post. This shift follows criticism of Mr Kovacs by the Parliament and the withdrawal of Eurosceptic Latvian designate commissioner Ingrida Udre.

Dutchwoman Neelie Kroes, who was the subject of concerns about potential conflicts of interest because of her boardroom past, will keep the competition portfolio.

Malta's Commissioner Joe Borg has also retained the portfolio assigned to him in August. He will be responsible for fisheries and maritime policy.

Contacted by The Times last night, he expressed his relief that he had not been part of the re-shuffle.

He said "the fact that Mr Barroso didn't call me today made me feel very relieved that after all the work I put in to get to know my portfolio inside out, I will keep the job."

He said he was looking forward to starting work as soon as possible and, having already made a lot of contacts in the field, he felt satisfied that he could now start to deliver.

Dr Borg also praised the choice of Minister Frattini, saying he had a lot of experience in EU affairs and had made a good impression when presiding over the Italian EU presidency last year.

He expressed the hope that the new commission will be approved as soon as possible in order to start doing its work.

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi was also satisfied with the new line-up. He said it was very important that the whole issue be closed as soon as possible because Europe needed to continue working as fast as possible.

The Maltese government, he said, also welcomed the fact that Mr Barroso had not moved Dr Borg, whose portfolio was very important in the European sphere and closely related to Malta's economy.

The process of approving the new commission now goes into full gear after Mr Barroso had call a postponement of the Parliament vote. Today he is scheduled to meet the leaders of the Parliament's political groups in a special session of the Conference of Presidents.

He said he was expecting the new team to be approved during the next plenary session of the European Parliament due to convene in Strasbourg on November 15, convinced that this time it would have no objections.