Frattini's portfolio to be taken over by Barrot

One of the most influential portfolios in the European Commission, Justice and Home Affairs, will soon be taken over by Jacques Barrot, currently Transport Commissioner.

This decision was made by Commission President José Manuel Barroso in view of the probability that the current incumbent, Italian Commissioner Franco Frattini will soon leave the Commission to lead the Foreign Ministry in Rome.

Mr Frattini, who has managed to build a good rapport with the Maltese government particularly over the problem of illegal immigration, was elected an MP during the recent Italian elections and is to be the new Italian Foreign Minister.

President Barroso yesterday said that in view of the current situation and "in order to fully ensure the coherence and effectiveness of the complex and sensitive work in the justice, liberty and security portfolio", he decided that Mr Barrot, who is currently covering the Justice portfolio in Mr Frattini's absence, will take over until the end of the current Commission's mandate in autumn next year.

Mr Barroso also decided that the new Italian Commissioner, still to be nominated by the Italian government, will replace Mr Barrot as Transport Commissioner.

Italy's outgoing Prime Minister and former President of the Commission, Romano Prodi expressed his disappointment over the portfolio swap. He said that while he is aware that it is up to the Commission President to assign portfolios, these decisions should be made in conjunction with national governments.

However, sources close to the Commission told The Times that Mr Barroso's move is likely to have been an attempt to pre-empt any controversy over Italy's possible candidate to replace Mr Frattini.

Several MEPs have already started preparing for a tough hearing of the new Italian designate.

With Italian media mentioning Antonio Tajani, an EPP-ED MEP from Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia, as the most likely candidate, some MEPs openly expressed their concern that he may share the tough views on immigration of his party boss.

Mr Frattini will be the second EU Commissioner to leave the Barroso team. Former Cypriot Commissioner Markos Kyprianou left a few months ago after he was appointed as his country's Foreign Minister.