Brussels, 24/11/2009 (Agence Europe) - At European Commission President's questions, José Manuel Barroso was asked especially about the make-up of the new Commission. ALDE group leader Guy Verhofstadt (Belgium) opened fire by expressing doubts over plans to split the environment and justice and home affairs portfolios. Barroso repeated his desire to create a cross-cutting portfolio devoted to climate change, to ensure the follow-up to the Copenhagen conference. He also repeated his intention to put in place a portfolio devoted to justice and fundamental rights, and another dedicated to internal affairs. Green/EFA group joint leader Daniel Cohn-Bendit asked him, “Is it you who decides on the Commission or is it the countries - and the big countries at that - of the EU which impose the roles of the Commissioners on you?” “My view is very simple: it is to comply with the Lisbon Treaty,” Barroso responded, alluding to Article 17 which states that it is the Commission President who decided on the internal organisation of the Commission. He added, “We all have requests made of us. Ultimately, I decide”. In the long term, would it not be preferable for each member state to propose a man and a woman, so as to allow the President to choose and to form a balanced Commission, pursued Cohn-Bendit. “You are absolutely correct. Unfortunately, it's not in the Treaty,” answered Barroso. The Commission President also reassured Hungarian EPP MEP Kinga Gal: minority rights will fall within the compass of the fundamental rights commissioner. Immigration, with regard to security, will fall within the responsibility of the home affairs portfolio (tacking illegal immigration Frontex, etc.) and for points related to integration of migrants to the social affairs portfolio, he said.
The Commission President answered further questions on:
- the risk of a further gas crisis (question by EPP Group President Joseph Daul): “I share your concern about a reoccurrence of last winter's crisis”, he said, welcoming the discussion and good atmosphere at the recent summit with Russia as well as the conclusion of the agreement on the early warning mechanism that “should help us”. All the same, he did not hide the fact that the internal situation remains difficult in Ukraine. Next week in Kiev, he will insist, with President Reinfeldt, on reforms that must be carried out in Ukraine.
- comments by the Bulgarian prime minister who described the Socialists as a “band of crooks” (question by German Social Democrat Martin Schulz). While refusing to enter into the polemic, Barroso welcomed the “true cooperation and European commitment” shown by the former Bulgarian prime minister, Sergei Stanichev.
- the Lisbon Strategy (questions by Polish Conservative Michal Kaminski and Belgian Green member Isabelle Durant in particular). “Today, we have adopted a working document for 2020” (Ed.: see related article), said President Barroso, insisting that this document place emphasis on the need to strengthen the internal market. All the same, the social and employment dimensions have not been forgotten. “It is very important to work on social inclusion”, he said, highlighting the need for training and lifelong learning. The aim is to conclude the consultation by next spring. “Spain is adamant that we should have a first discussion paper ready during the spring summit in March”, he said. (O.J./transl.jl)