Malta supports Barroso for second term

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, who is currently attending an EU Summit in Brussels, yesterday officially endorsed the re-nomination of Jose Manuel Durao Barroso for a second five-year term as President of the European Commission.

Asked by The Times following a pre-summit meeting of the EPP (European People's Party) leaders, Dr Gonzi said that during the meeting he confirmed Malta's backing for Mr Barroso's re-appointment.

'Barroso has done a god job despite having had very difficult situations. He has a good track record and has done a very good job. I believe that continuation in the current economic scenario is of utmost importance.'

Asked whether Mr Barroso's re-nomination will bear any effect on his choice of Malta's next European Commissioner, Dr Gonzi stated that it will not.

'When the time comes I will only base my choice on Malta's best interest.'

The current Maltese Commissioner Joe Borg and Malta's Permanent Representative to the EU Richard Cachia Caruana are currently considered as front runners in the nomination of Malta's next Commissioner. However the PM is not expected to make his final decision before the decision of the next Commission President and the European Parliament elections.

During yesterday's EPP meeting, 53-year old Mr Barroso, who also comes from the EPP political family, was endorsed as the EPP's official candidate for the next Presidency of the Commission.

Apart from Dr Gonzi, the meeting was also attended by the Prime Ministers of France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Holland, 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 Portuguese Prime Minister, 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 Parliament is insisting on a different procedure and 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 Pottering said that Parliament wants the election of the President of the Commission to take place on July 15 rather than 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 Pottering insisted.

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