Strasbourg, 31/03/2004 (Agence Europe) -On Wednesday in plenary, Enrique Baron, expressed worries about the expected departure of certain Commissioner (even if that proved that there was a “life after the Commission”). Romano Prodi admitted that this could cause some practical problems and added, smiling, that his first reaction on seeing governments appealing to members of the Commission was of “great satisfaction”. Ms Diamantopoulou has already been replace and the succession will be also assured afterwards by the “probable” departures of Pedro Solbes and Michel Barnier. Questioned by the press afterwards, about the departure of Michel Barnier to become minister of foreign affairs in France, Prodi indicated that if this was the case, it would be an important moment for Europe and that Mr Barnier would certainly be an “apostle” of the Constitution. Prodi said that he would be losing a great colleague with whom he had worked in “synergy”. (The new French government is not yet know as we go to press: the probable replacement of Barnier is Jacques Barrot, president of the UMP group at the National Assembly: editor's note).
He also added that there would be others probably leaving too but that he saw something positive in it and hoped that current MEPs could also become Commissioners. He explained that he wanted the Commission to be a political body and that each Commissioner could speak out by assuming their political responsibilities. Prodi repeated that as for himself he would be guaranteeing this continuity until the end of the Commission mandate in he night of 31 October-1November.