European executive ready to start work
Source: Agencies |
February 10, 2010, Wednesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
THE European Parliament overwhelmingly approved the lineup of the next European Commission yesterday, clearing the way for the EU executive to take office nearly four months behind schedule.
Legislators voted 488 to 137, with 72 abstentions, in favor of the 26-person team put forward by commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, a move that was widely expected after Barroso replaced one of his original nominees last month following assembly opposition.
The commission is responsible for proposing and enforcing laws across the 27 member states of the European Union.
Ahead of the vote, Barroso laid out some of his aims.
"The broad priorities are clear: making a successful exit from the crisis; leading on climate action and energy efficiency; boosting new sources of growth and social cohesion to renew our social market economy," he said.
The commission consists of one commissioner from each EU member state, each of whom holds a portfolio and are expected to act in the interests of the EU not their country.
The commission was due to take office in November but approval was held up by delays in signing the EU's Lisbon reform treaty, by disputes over who would fill two top-level EU jobs and by parliament's opposition to Bulgaria's original candidate.
The new commission will be the second headed by Barroso, who received backing from EU leaders for another term last June and won support from the parliament for the job on September 16.
Barroso has made Europe's economic recovery the broad focus of the next commission's work, but individual commissioners will have busy personal portfolios.
Three of the most high-profile will be the internal market job to be handled by France's Michel Barnier, the monetary affairs portfolio to be taken by Finland's Olli Rehn and the competition brief under Spain's Joaquin Almunia.
Barnier plans to tighten regulations in the wake of the economic and financial crisis. Rehn will be at the forefront of the battle to prevent a full-blown budget crisis in Greece. Almunia will be in charge of monitoring mergers and acquisitions and any anti-competitive or cartel-like behavior in the EU or affecting the EU and its citizens.
Legislators voted 488 to 137, with 72 abstentions, in favor of the 26-person team put forward by commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, a move that was widely expected after Barroso replaced one of his original nominees last month following assembly opposition.
The commission is responsible for proposing and enforcing laws across the 27 member states of the European Union.
Ahead of the vote, Barroso laid out some of his aims.
"The broad priorities are clear: making a successful exit from the crisis; leading on climate action and energy efficiency; boosting new sources of growth and social cohesion to renew our social market economy," he said.
The commission consists of one commissioner from each EU member state, each of whom holds a portfolio and are expected to act in the interests of the EU not their country.
The commission was due to take office in November but approval was held up by delays in signing the EU's Lisbon reform treaty, by disputes over who would fill two top-level EU jobs and by parliament's opposition to Bulgaria's original candidate.
The new commission will be the second headed by Barroso, who received backing from EU leaders for another term last June and won support from the parliament for the job on September 16.
Barroso has made Europe's economic recovery the broad focus of the next commission's work, but individual commissioners will have busy personal portfolios.
Three of the most high-profile will be the internal market job to be handled by France's Michel Barnier, the monetary affairs portfolio to be taken by Finland's Olli Rehn and the competition brief under Spain's Joaquin Almunia.
Barnier plans to tighten regulations in the wake of the economic and financial crisis. Rehn will be at the forefront of the battle to prevent a full-blown budget crisis in Greece. Almunia will be in charge of monitoring mergers and acquisitions and any anti-competitive or cartel-like behavior in the EU or affecting the EU and its citizens.
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