Brussels, 17/07/2008 (Agence Europe) - Hannes Swoboda (PES, Austria) is highly critical of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's publicly expressed support for the renewal of José Manuel Barroso's tenure at the head of the European Commission in 2009 (EUROPE 9704). “The fact that Mr Barroso accepts Berlusconi's support for his re-election is a cause for concern. At a time when the Commission has been mandated by the majority in the European Parliament to scrutinise the lawfulness of fingerprinting Roma people [in camps in Italy], Mr Barroso is happy to be courted by Berlusconi”, Mr Swoboda deplored. He says that, by acting in this way, Mr Barroso “jeopardises his objectivity”. The Austrian MEP also has the impression that, over recent months, “Mr Barroso seemed more concerned about being re-elected than with the policies his Commission should be formulating”. (H.B./transl.jl)