Brussels, 17/05/2004 (Agence Europe) - In response to rumours stating that he is to run for European Commission presidency, the President of the European Council, Bertie Ahern, said he was "honoured and flattered that my name has been mentioned by Prime Ministers and other Government representatives, however there it ends. I am going to stay at home".
Furthermore, according to the Lusa agency, Portuguese Prime Minister Durao Barroso said on Friday, after meeting Bertie Ahern in Lisbon, that he knew the designation of European Commissioner Antonio Vitorino as president of the European Commission was coming up against difficulties. He added, however, that they would "continue to believe this is an issue for which it is worth while fighting. We believe that Commissioner Vitorino has the qualities needed for such a post". (We recall that the Portuguese Justice and Home Affairs Commissioner is socialist, whereas the current Portuguese government is a conservative government. Antonio Vitorino also served as Portuguese Defence Minister and MEP).