Brussels, 21/10/2008 (Agence Europe) -If José Manuel Barroso agrees to be the candidate of the European People's Party (EPP) for another term as leader of the European Commission starting in autumn 2009, he will not be able to count on the support of the Socialist Group in the approval vote at the European Parliament. This is what the president of the PES Group in the EP, Martin Schulz, told EUROPE during an interview (our translation throughout).
During their "pre-European summit" in Brussels on 15 October, the heads of government and leaders of the parties which are members of the EPP discussed this issue and generally approved Mr Barroso's candidacy for a second term at the head of the Commission. The president of the EP, Hans-Gert Pöttering, who was also present at this meeting, confirmed this indirectly during his press conference after his meeting with the European Council (EUROPE 9762). However, Mr Pöttering said that he wished to leave it up to the president of the EPP, Wilfried Martens, to "announce the news". At the EPP, however, it has been denied that any "formal decision" had been taken over support for Mr Barroso. The subject was raised in an "exchange of views" on 15 October, which will be continued at the forthcoming "pre-summit" in December, a spokesperson to the EPP explained.
In the view of Martin Schulz, it is clear that Mr Barroso should refuse to stand for the EPP if he hopes to avoid a "politicisation" of events, bringing with it risks of "considerable damage" to future cooperation between the EP and the Commission. "I have advised Mr Barroso not to accept this offer", Mr Schulz told us on 17 October. He added that he was "convinced" that the Portuguese Commission president, who has so far shown a "certain political neutrality" in his contacts with the Parliament, would not agree to dress up in EPP colours "because if he did, he would not be able to count on the vote of the Socialists". "The current Treaty (Treaty of Nice) provides that the president of the Commission is to be put forward by the Council, not by a party. If Mr Barroso agreed to be the EPP's candidate, why should I vote for him (during his confirmation by the EP)? I will not vote in favour of a candidate from a rival party", explained Mr Schulz. In this event, Mr Barroso may struggle to gain the absolute majority required to be approved by the Parliament. Mr Schulz is not opposed to the principle that the European parties may in future appoint their own candidates for the post of President of the Commission. "If we had the Treaty of Lisbon, it would be fair and reasonable, because the European Parliament would elect the president of the Commission (by absolute majority). However, it is clear that the Commission will be renewed on the basis of the Treaty of Nice (which provides for a simple 'approval' of the Council's choice), because the Treaty of Lisbon will not be in force in time", he said. (H.B./transl.fl)