28/12/2001 (Agence Europe) - the Portuguese daily Publico says that European Commission President Romano Prodi said he was "extremely happy" that the Commissioner for Justice and Home Affairs, Antonio Vitorino had rejected the offer to succeed outgoing Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Guterres, as leader of the Socialist Party. It's a "great European gesture", commented Prodi, adding: "I regret it for the Portuguese who would like to have him home, but I prefer to have Vitorino here".