Strasbourg, 22/07/2004 (Agence Europe) - Former Portuguese Prime Minister José Manuel Barroso was voted in, on 22 July in Strasbourg, as president of the European Commission by 413 votes to 251 and 44 abstentions (the majority required was 333). During earlier procedures at the European Parliament, his predecessor Romano Prodi had obtained 392 votes to 72 and 41 abstentions, while Jacques Santer won 260 votes to 238 and 23 abstentions. In this vote of a more political kind than usual, a large part of the left took a stance against the president designate. Many MEPs thanked the latter for the "courtesy" he had shown by coming to explain his views before the political groups. "I have gone further than what the treaty requires", Mr Barroso commented in response to questions from MEPs on several occasions: first of all within groups then during the plenary on Wednesday afternoon and then again in plenary on Thursday morning.
Before the vote, the presidents of the political group laid their cards on the table. The group of the EPP-ED grants all its support to José Manuel Barroso, Hans-Gert Pöttering confirmed, giving glowing praise of the president designate. In a more mitigated fashion, the president of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats of Europe (ALDE), Graham Watson announced the "yes" of his group's overwhelming majority, saying that Mr Barroso had given the reassurance requested of him on the subject of the future European "super-Commissioners", equal in number between men and women within the College and transparency. The British Liberal Democrat said they would be a "critical friend" for President Barroso within the group, and hailed the vision of an "ambitious and independent European executive" given by the candidate. The Group for a Union of a Europe of Nations (UEN) is behind Mr Barroso, Brian Crowley said, deploring the very "ideological" turn taken by the debate on the choice of successor to Romano Prodi. Our duty, he insisted, is to take decisions in the interest of citizens and Mr Barroso has promised to be an "honest broker", something we greatly need. The Heads of Government in their wisdom, he said, have chosen Mr Barroso unanimously and "it is enough for me", the representative of Fianna Fail, Bertie Ahern's party, said.
The Socialist Group found it hard to define its position, it was admitted on Thursday by the president, Martin Schulz, telling Mr Barroso that, even if some MEPs from that group do express trust, the PES cannot accept him. Why not? Because to the question of knowing whether Mr Barroso is the person able to face up to the Council and work in favour of a sustainable economic and social policy and social cohesion, the response was "no", the SPD member said. Above all, Mr Schulz added, they do not know whether Mr Barroso would be able to defend the values of multilateralism in the face of unilateralist tendencies. He continued saying "Mr Barroso, our response would be different if, on the subject of Iraq, you had said at least once that, if you had had the information at the time that you have today, you would not have backed US military intervention". This provoked a comment from Graham Watson who, in German, said, "Please, Mr Pöttering, what have you done? - You had an agreement with the PES, you have elected its candidate to the presidency of the Parliament and not you are not voting for your candidate to the Commission". This is an "unreliable partnership", Mr Watson deplored, concluding in English saying that it would not have happened with Enrique Baron (former president of the Socialist Group) but the problem is that "when Enrique went to the beach" on a hot summer's day in June, he found "Martin Schulz's towel on his deckchair" when he got back.
Still more virulent than Martin Schulz, the co-president of the Greens/ALE Group, Daniel Cohn-Bendit said to Mr Barroso on the Maoist phase used in his youth: "In the name of a common past, thirty years ago, when we say Grandola Morena, I can be frank with you". Frankness that is not very pleasant for Mr Barroso, since the German Green member continued: "You describe yourself as a centre reformist but the problem with the centre is that it is all opportunism. When you speak to some you are in favour of sustainable development, when speaking to others you favour the market, when speaking to Christians you are for God but against when talking to secular circles". "Mr Barroso, I am sure you can be a good Commission president" but the problem has been raised by Mr Schulz who, "for once has spoken out very clearly" when he asked you about Iraq. When you think of your meeting in the Azores "in Mr Bush's arms, don't you feel slightly ashamed?", Mr Cohn-Bendit said, reproaching Mr Barroso for never having the shadow of a doubt.
He concluded saying: "If you are elected, I shall say bravo, but if you are not, I shall recommend that during the holidays you read Socrates". The Greens for their part will vote against. MEPs of the European United Left/Nordic Greens Left will also vote against, indicated president Francis Wurtz who said that he was talking about a more "sober register" than that of his predecessor but that they were opposing Mr Barrosso because of his "political oreintations", which are those of the European Council, the European Commission and European Parliament. The French Communist said that this was a vote from the left a vote against the liberal model against the Azores model, which did not exclude mutual respect.
Nigel Farage speaking for the Euro-sceptics, from the UKIP was particularly scathing. Speaking on behalf to the Independence and Democracy group he shouted that Jean Monnet could rest in peace in his grave, "he hated parliamentary democracy" and wanted a strong Commission and that now they had a Europe governed by unelected bureacrats, with a Commission which is a "nusing home for politicians who failed in their home countries" in a Europe which was a "prison" for nations. On a more moderate note, Nation Front MEP Bruno Gollnisch acknowledged that they were against this Commission which over the years had taken over an increasing part of the life of 450 million European citizens. However, he informed Mr Barroso that they were asking for his "disasterous initiative" of supporting the war of aggression in Iraq and his support for Turkey's accession to the EU (although he was cautious in his comments on this subject.) to be withdrawn. Due to the principle of "presumed innocence", some of the non-attached were going to abstain, announced Gollnisch, who concluded that (with an impecable Portuguese accent, quoting Fernando Pessoa) that tomorrow perhaps "but today I can't.
Mr Barroso announced composition of new Commission after 23 August
Mr Barroso declared at a press conference that he had not been elected president by the right alone, if that had been the case he would not have had 60% of the vote (a result that goes well beyond national elections). He stated this affter the vote, pointing out that divisions even existed in the groupos themselves (between Conservatives and those who wnt to modernise, between those who want more and less who want less Europe, for example). The new presiento of the Commission refused the description of opportunist and explained that the was searching for a synthesis.
As far as the Commission's composition is concerned, Mr Barroso received many suggestions but confirmed that nothing has yet been decided. He will announce his decision after 23 August. What is certain is that he does not want any "super-Commissioners" and wants at least eight women. He said they were in "desperate need" of a strong Commission, over which he feels compromised by the Parliament. But, he said, it is also in the Council's best interest, as, if the Commission is weak it is bad for Europe and therefore also for the governments. Will there be a Commissioner responsible for the role of coordination? To this question, Mr Barroso replied: "it is too soon to say, but if there is a coordinator, this cannot entail hierarchy between Commissioners".
In answer to questions on the Stability Pact, Mr Barroso confirmed his resolve to defend the Pact, while stressing that it is also a growth pact. He admitted, however, that it can be "improved and interpreted".
Will the Commission adopt a firm position toward Russia concerning Chechnya? Human rights are "sacred" and he said he would always defend them vis-à-vis Russia and vis-à-vis the United States or any other country.
Answering questions on Thursday put by MEPs in plenary, Mr Barroso gave his assurance that he did not want a super-Commissioner but "24 super Commissioners" and at least one third women in his Commission. Furthermore, he anticipated that the Budgets Commissioner would not be responsible for audits and controls.
Mr Barroso also promised to defend the ideas of the Prodi Commission on the financial perspectives. For this, he told MEPs, he will need their help to face up to the Council.
On the subject of Iraq, he repeated: "It is not my country that caused division. There were no European common positions but I shall work with Javier Solana to try to reach a real European external policy in the future".