Strong approval expected for EU Commission

The second European Commission headed by José Manuel Barroso is today expected to be officially endorsed by the European Parliament in a vote to be taken at its plenary session in Strasbourg.

The vote on the 27-member Commission is expected to sail through as the largest political groups, including the Christian Democrat's EPP, the Socialists and the Liberals have already declared their support for the new EU executive.

"We expect an overwhelming majority," a Commission official told The Times yesterday a few hours before the vote.

"Only minor parties, particularly the sceptics, will be voting against and the Commission should be endorsed by a very comfortable majority," he said.

The new Commission will start its work more than three months late.

Originally, the mandate of the Commission ended in October. However, a number of mishaps forced the first Barroso Commission to stay in office as a caretaker. This will also mean the new Commission will have a shorter than usual five-year mandate and will have to finish its business by the end of October 2014.

After the delay, due to Ireland's ratification of the Lisbon Treaty, the new EU executive had to wait a few more weeks while MEPs launched a fierce attack on Bulgaria's nominee for the post of Humanitarian Aid Commissioner, Rumiana Jeleva, forcing her to resign.

The Bulgarian government subsequently nominated World Bank vice- president Kristalina Georgieva, who was approved by MEPs last Wednesday clearing the way for today's vote.

After the vote, the new commissioners will take the oath of office in the European Court in Luxembourg tomorrow so that they can start working from their offices in the Berlaymont on Thursday. The first meeting of the new college is set for next week.

After almost six years in Brussels, Malta's first European Commissioner Joe Borg, who was responsible for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, will make way for John Dalli, who assumes his role as Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy.

In their evaluation letter, MEPs said Mr Dalli had performed well overall during his hearing but questioned certain aspects of his approach, particularly with regard to consumer policy, the completion of the internal market and the possibility of member states maintaining or introducing stringent national measures.

After today's vote Mr Dalli is expected to end his long political career in Malta by formally submitting his resignation both as Social Policy Minister and MP.

This will open the way for Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi to nominate his replacement in Cabinet while a new MP will have to be elected following a casual election in the sixth electoral district.