04/10/2004 (Agence Europe) - In an article on the theme "The State of the European Union in 2004" published in the October edition of the quarterly review "Affari Esteri", the Italy's former Permanent Representative to the EU, Pietro Calamia, considers that the European Parliament debate on the appointment of President Barroso "shows much similarity with internal parliamentary debates, and the fact that the real powers of the Commission president are not absolutely comparable, in 2004, to those of a national leader does not seem to have influenced most of the parliamentary stances". Ambassador Calamia asked whether this was the "sign of aspiration to a post of executive responsible before the European Parliament". He sees the development in Europe of a "politico-parliamentary dialectic" which also comprises contacts between the EP and Member State parliaments. At the same time, Pietro Calamia notes that the fact that there is no second Commissioner who (from large Member States) usually comes from the opposition in the country of origin could make the Commission less pluralist and closer to the political line of governments in place.