Brussels, 03/08/2004 (Agence Europe) - The Danish government has nominated Mariann Fischer Boel, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, as a member of the European Commission to be led by José Manuel Barroso. He has approved the choice, according to a communication from Prime Minister Rasmussen. The liberal Mariann Fischer Boel will replace Poul Nielsen, the current Development Commissioner.
This nomination brings us closer to the number of women that President Barroso wants in his Commission (eight). To date there are seven of them: Margot Wallström of Sweden, Viviane Reding of Luxemburg, Danuta Hübner of Poland, Dalia Grybauskaite of Lithuania, Sandra Kalniete of Latvia (current Commissioners) and Benita Ferrero-Waldner of Austria and Mariann Fischer Boel of Denmark.