Malta backs Barroso for second term

Malta will be supporting the nomination of Jose Manuel Durao Barroso for a second five-year term as President of the European Commisison, government sources have said.

Although Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi is still to make his endorsement official, Malta signalled its agreement during a meeting of EPP (European People’s Party) leaders in Brussels this afternoon which preceded the opening of the formal two-day EU summit tackling the financial and economic crises.

During the EPP meeting, the current President-in-office, who also comes from the EPP political family was endorsed as the party’s official candidate for the next presidency of the Commission. The meeting was also attended by the prime minsiters of France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, The Netherlands, Luxembourg, Poland and Romania who all agreed with the decision to re-nominate Mr Barroso at the helm of the EU executive.

President Barroso, a former Portugese Prime Minsiter, had already stated that he was seeking a second mandate.

The decision on who will be the next Commission President is expected to be taken by the end of June although the European Parlaiment is insisting on a different procedure ans wants to be consulted before a decision by member states is taken.

Addressing EU leaders at the start of the EU summit, EP President Hans Gert Poettering said that Parliament want that the election of the President of the Commission to take place on July 15 2009 and not in June.

‘This election must reflect the outcome of the European elections. For this to happen, consultations between the Council Presidency and the European Parliament will be necessary,’ Mr Poettering insisted.

According to EU rules, the Commission President has to be nominated by the Europoean Council comprising all the 27 EU leaders.