05/02/2009 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has denied reports that appeared on euractiv.com on Thursday 5 February that five commissioners - Viviane Reding, Louis Michel, Janez Potoènic, Danbuta Hübner and Ján Figel' - had informed President José Manuel Barroso of their intention to stand at the European elections in June. The issue of the active or passive involvement of European Commissioners in electoral campaigns in their respective countries was discussed at an informal seminar of the College of Commissioners in Lanaken in January (see EUROPE 9822), which called, inter alia for the existing code of conduct on this issue to be adhered to. Barroso has yet to receive any formal notification from commissioners who wish to stand at these elections, a spokeswoman for the Commission said. Of the five commissioners mentioned, only Belgian Louis Michel (who will head the MR - French-speaking Liberals - list) and Luxembourg Viviane Reding (who will top the Christian Democrat CSV list) are certain to stand. Pole Danuta Hübner has “not ruled out” standing, but Slovenian Janez Potoènic and Slovakian Ján Figel' have “no intention” of standing, according to their spokespersons. (H.B./transl.rt)