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| CONTINUITY AND REFORM 17/09/09 |
| (2009-09-17) |
| Last updated: 2009-09-18 17:38 EET |
“When he speaks to the socialists he is a socialist. When he speaks to the Liberals he is a liberal and when he talks to the Greens he is an ecologist.” This is how the socialist leader in the European Parliament, German Martin Schulz is describing Jose Manuel Barroso, reconfirmed as head of the European Commission for a second term in a row. The Portuguese has got the vote of his colleagues in the European People’s Party, who form the majority in the community legislative, but he was also voted by the Liberal-Democrats, the Conservatives as well as by part of the euro-skeptics. The Socialists, who criticised the failures of his first mandate, without coming with a counter-candidate though, voted against him or abstained just like the greens. The exception were the Iberian Socialist MEPs who voted for him.
The Barroso programme for the following five years focuses on economic recovery and reinvigorating the social market. Barroso pledged changes in the Commission’s structure, and has included among his priorities the preservation of Europe’s Social-democratic values and more frequent consultations with the European Parliament. According to analysts, his ability to adjust himself to different conditions and having sided with the strong European states have paved Barroso’s way to a second tenure in the Union’s highest executive position. They also agree that the process of forging his new team could last till the end of the year, due to the uncertainty over the future of the Lisbon Treaty, whose coming into effect depends on the new referendum to be held on this issue in Ireland. Even if the Irish approve the treaty, there is not enough time to implement it as of November the 1st, when the mandate of the present European Commission is due to expire.
Jose Manuel Barroso himself has admitted there is going to be a period of transition to last by the beginning of next year. The European Commission president has to form a new team through negotiations with various European governments. These talks are normally held behind closed doors while every state is trying to secure a strategic position. It is well-known that big countries try to secure seats in the economic area, where the Commission has most prerogatives, which amplifies disputes around them. France, for instance, didn’t conceal its desire to get the internal market portfolio, which is currently regulating the financial markets. A middle-sized country and a recent member of the Union, Romania aspires to the seat of agriculture commissioner.
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