30/06/2004 (Agence Europe) - CDU MEP Elmar Brok has commented that the comments in Istanbul on Monday by Chancellor Schröder that the German government was planning to confirm the current Enlargement Commissioner Günter Verheugen as the German member of the new European Commission as out of place. The German government is entitled to put forward a candidate, but the choice has to be made in agreement with the President designate of the Commission, Brok pointed out. The MEP recognised that Commissioner Verheugen had successfully managed his responsibilities, but said that in the next five years, European policy will focus to an ever greater extent on economic policies. Brok urged President designate Durão Barroso not to let Member States pose such restrictions from the start on his powers under the Treaty (to determine the composition of the Commission).