Brussels, 30/08/2004 (Agence Europe) - The Eurostep NGO (European Solidarity Towards Equal Participation of People), reiterated in a press statement, that its, "first impressions on the Barroso team" confirmed its concerns about the autonomy of the EU's development policy in the future. Simon Stocker explained Eurostep's critique with regard to the role of Poul Neilson as Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Assistance: the official responsibilities of Mr Nielson are not reflected at the Prodi Commission, given that the Development Directorate General is only in charge of relations with ACP countries and relations with other developing countries is covered by Commissioner Patten at the Directorate General for External Relations. Mr Stocker is critical of the fact that with the new Commissioner for Development, the ambiguity will not go away, particularly because, in the future Barrroso Commission, EuropeAid (which since 1999 has exercised a certain number of activities that until then were covered by the Directorate General of Development) will be accountable to the Commissioner for External Relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner. Eurostep underlines that the Commissioner for Development is expected to be directly responsible for services involving all developing countries and not only countries in Africa, the Caribbean and Pacific.
For the rest, Eurostep welcomes the fact that in the future Commission, women occupy key portfolios, Benita Ferrero-Waldner for External and Neighbourhood Policy, Neelie Kroes for Competition, Marianne Fischer Boel for Agriculture and Dalia Grybauskaite for Budget and Financial Planning. Margot Wallström, will be responsible for institutions and communication strategy, as well as replacing President Barroso in his absence, and who, according to Eurostep, "can be considered as the most senior among the vice-presidents" (the others are: from Germany Verheugen, from France, Barrot, Italy Buttiglione and Kallas from Estonia: Editor's note).