23/08/2004 (Agence Europe) - In a press release, European Commissioner Antonio Vitorino welcomed the choice of Rocco Buttiglione, 'a committed European', to take over from him, saying he had phoned him to give him full support during the transition months, particularly in the framework of the new multi-annual programme for Justice, Freedom and Security due to be endorsed by the European Council at the beginning of November. Tony Bunyan of Statewatch expressed concern, however, at the renaming of this portfolio: "this simply scrambles the 'Area of freedom, security and justice' into a new EU acronym which changes the wrapping and leaves the same policies in place, where security triumphs over freedom and justice every time."