Strasbourg, 14/11/2006 (Agence Europe) - The portfolio of the future Romanian Commissioner, multilingualism, is a bit on the light side for the main groups in the European Parliament. Leader of the PES group Martin Schultz, speaking to press on Tuesday, said Leonard Orban's portfolio was indeed a little weak, and should be swelled by a number of other dossiers, such as, for example, the protection of minorities. “I hope that Mr Barroso will take account of my proposal,” he said, stressing that “this will not be a pre-condition” for PES approval or not of Mr Orban's candidacy. The Greens/EFA feel that Mr Orban's portfolio, as it is at the moment, is “a bit thin”, said Monica Frassoni. “I would not be against” protection of minorities being added to the Romanian Commissioner's portfolio, if the EP judged it necessary, said Liberal leader Graham Watson. The GUE/NGL believes that things should have been done differently, and not only given genuine portfolios to the future Commissioner, but especially submitted the enlarged College in its entirety to new hearings with the Parliament, said its leader Francis Wurtz. Mr Schulz also raised the issue on Tuesday afternoon during a plenary debate on, the Commission's 2007 work programme (see related article). In response, José Manuel Barroso said that Mr Orban would only be responsible for multilingualism, but also multiculturalism. (dt)