Brussels, 22/10/2004 (Agence Europe) - After meeting with the president-designate of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso and the Conference of Presidents of the political groups of the European Parliament, several political groups will be digging in their heels regarding their positions next week in Strasbourg (EUROPE yesterday, pages 4 - 7). This was confirmed on Friday, during the pre-session briefing, the spokesperson for the Socialist group (who explained that the groups would give its decision on Monday but nothing would happen until then as far as Mr Barroso was concerned, a “block vote” from the socialists against the Commission is “probable”), as well as from the ALDE group (which said that it was hoping that there would be new elements by next Monday). Replying to the press, the ALDE spokesperson noted that if Mr Barroso introduced new changes to his team, there would be further hearings of the Commissioner-designates. The spokesperson for the Greens/EFA confirmed that the group would be voting in a “very, very large majority” against the Barroso Commission, whereas the EPE-ED reiterated its support from its group, pointing out that Mr Barroso had been supported by a very strong majority in July (therefore the current situation did not justify any significant changes to this majority).
Asked at the same time about the what would happen if the College as a whole was rejected next Wednesday in Strasbourg, José Manuel Liberato, Media Director at the European Parliament, pointed out that José Manuel Barroso had obtained a positive vote from Parliament last July as new Président of the Commission (and remained, therefore, in charge of forming the European Commission: Editor's note). However, to clarify the situation, the legal service at the European Parliament was preparing a new opinion, which would very soon be available, explained Liberato, who admitted that the problem was also “political”. (In the context of the investiture process, see p.12). Replying to the press, Jaume Duch explained that the vote on the Commission took place by simple majority (votes expressed, abstentions not being counted) and that the vote was “nominal, therefore it can't be secret”. Mr Duch also indicated that: if the vote went against, the current Commission stays in place for the time being.
In an interview to La Repubblica on Friday, Président Borrell, when asked about a possible rejection of the Barroso Commission asked, “Why speak about a crisis? If we don't get the confidence of the 27, that means that Prodi will stay for a further few weeks (…). This is not a war (…) or even a set-to. It's a democracy”. Josep Borrell also announced that next Wednesday he would be voting (in sensitive situations, the president does not usually vote). The president of the Parliament has the right to vote, “I did not say how I would be voting, even if my thoughts are quite clearly the result of my behaviour and words”, added Borrell. The former president of the parliament Klaus Hänsch, s(German social democrat) stated in an interview on Friday in the Deutschlandfunk that if Mr Barroso does not give way a little bit, he will obtain a “small majority” in the plenary. According to Hänsch, a negative vote on Tuesday will not cause a crisis.
Mario Mauro, vice-president of the European Parliament, reacted sharply against Martin Schulz, who had rejected accusations that criticism from the Socialists against Rocco Buttiglione was in fact against Silvio Berlusconi. The Forza Italia MEP stated in a press release that Martin Schulz, who "was no-one, has become someone" thanks to "touching the magic of King Midas Berlusconi, who has given him a political substance that he didn't have before", (he failed to say that the Italian prime minister had compared the German MEP to a Kapo in a nazis concentration camp).