Brussels, 23/12/2004 (Agence Europe) - The composition, responsibilities and operating rules for the five groups of Commissioners set up in the Barroso Commission in a decision adopted on 22 December (see Europe of 23 December, p.4).
1. Lisbon Strategy Group. This group is responsible for coordinating and preparing all EU action concerning the Lisbon Strategy. It is chaired by the President of the Commission, José Manuel Durao Barroso, and the Vice-President is Enterprise and Industry Commissioner Gunter Verheugen. All Commissioners can participate in the work of this group. It will meet once every six to eight weeks. Preparatory work for this group will be carried out by a mixed cabinet and services group, chaired by the Secretary General of the Commission.
2. Competitiveness Council Group. Chaired by Commissioner Gunter Verheugen, this group includes Science and Research Commissioner Janez Potocnik, Health and Consumer Protection Commissioner Markos Kyprianou, Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes, Internal Market Commissioner Charlie MacCreevy and Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson. Other Commissioners whose work may involve the Competitiveness Council from time to time, will be invited to join the group by Barroso. The group will ensure coherence among Commission views on competition issues; ensure the Commission has a single, coherent line on competition issues vis-à-vis other institutions; prepare contributions together with the Lisbon Strategy Group; regularly assess the economy and progress in structural reform in the EU; on Barroso's request, assess the impact of draft Commission legislation on important issues not covered by the Competitiveness Council; and ensuring impact studies for Commission proposals take account of competitiveness. The group will meet once a month, before the Competitiveness Council. Preparatory work for the group will be carried out by a mixed cabinet and services group, chaired by Verheugen's Head of Cabinet.
3. External Relations Group. Chaired by Barroso and made up of External Relations Commissioner Benita Waldner, Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner Joaquin Almunia, Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn, Development Aid Commissioner Louis Michel, Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson and Budget Commissioner Dalia Grybauskite. The group will meet once a month to ensure coherence, impact and visibility in the Commission's foreign activities. More specifically, it will coordinate the Commission's foreign policies, define strategy and prepare for major international events, ensure coherence between policies having an foreign policy impact (like justice, transport, freedom and security, energy or the environment), and controlling EuropeAid's activities, based on regular reports by Ferrero Waldner.
4. Fundamental Rights, Anti-Discrimination and Equal Opportunities Group. This will be chaired by Barroso himself (following the Buttiglione case), with the responsibility of developing policy and ensuring coherence at the Commission in the three areas concerned. It will ensure that equal opportunities between men and women is taken into account in all EU policies and activities. It will meet once every two or three months. It will include JHA Commissioner Franco Frattini who will be the Vice-President of the group, Institutional Relations and Communications Commissioner Margot Wallstrom, Administration and Anti-Fraud Commissioner Siim Kallas, Information Society Commissioner Viviane Reding, Education, Training and Culture Commissioner Jan Figel, Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn, Development Commissioner Louis Michel, External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero Waldner, and Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities Commissioner Vladimir Spidla.
5. Communications and Programme Group. This will be chaired by Wallstrom, and include Transport Commissioner Jacques Barrot, Regional Policy Commissioner Danuta Hubner, Information Society Commissioner Viviane Reding, Budget Commissioner Daila Grybauskaite, Education, Training and Culture Commissioner Jan Figel and Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson. It will meet every six to eight weeks to consolidate programming to ensure the best policy implementation, pilot and monitor effective implementation of the Commission's annual strategy and work programme, and advise, develop and pilot the Commission's new general communication strategy (to be unveiled in the Spring of 2005).