Mixed EU reaction to Barroso endorsement

Europe's Socialists have condemned the "indecent haste" of José Manuel Barroso's reappointment as commission president after EU leaders endorsed him for a second term.

Martin Schulz, leader of the Socialists in the European parliament, accused the European council of attempting to speed up the reappointment process.

He said his group would not support Barroso should a vote be held at July's parliament plenary in Strasbourg.

Czech prime minister Jan Fischer, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency, confirmed on Thursday that government leaders at a Brussels summit had "unanimously supported" Barroso's candidacy.

There is some debate over how quickly to officially confirm the former Portuguese prime minister, with some countries pushing for his formal appointment sooner rather than later.

Fischer called for a quick confirmation of Barroso if the issue is put to MEPs next month, warning that "any postponement, any delays in the nomination would not be a good thing", particularly in light of the economic crisis.

However, Schulz said, "The council's wish to run this past a meeting of the European parliament leaders at the end of June, followed by a vote in July, rather than to have a full and official consultation of the parliament, is wholly unacceptable."

"Deciding on Barroso's appointment on the basis of the current EU treaty of Nice when the Lisbon treaty may soon be ratified causes needless legal uncertainty."

Under theexisting Nice treaty, a presidential nomineerequires just a simple majority - that is more MEPs than less - votingfor them.

However, under the Lisbon treaty, which is yet to be ratifiedby all member states, they would require an absolute majority of atleast 50 per cent of members.

Schulz added, "In addition, the parliament has just been elected and in July it will be unable to give the appointment the full consideration it needs.

"My group objects to the indecent haste with which the council is trying to rush through Barroso's appointment and we will certainly vote against him."

Greens leader Daniel Cohn-Bendit agreed, saying that no decision should be made on Barroso before a debate in the autumn.

He said that EU heads of state had "hardened their resolve" to install Barroso in July. "Although they fell short of formally nominating him, their steamrolling tactics run the risk of a negative vote from the European parliament next month," he added.

"The Greens insist it would be incoherent to confirm Barroso as president under the Nice treaty and appoint the other commissioners in autumn under the terms of Lisbon. It is simply disingenuous to say we need to appoint Barroso now for the sake of stability, when his mandate runs to October."

Calling for an "in-depth debate" of Barroso's programme, he said his party would "vehemently oppose any vote on Barroso in July".

"We will vigorously defend this position at the meeting with the Swedish presidency on 25 June and in the European parliament's conference of political group presidents on 9 July," he said. "We are confident that Socialists, Liberals and the European left will share our view."

However, EPP president Wilfried Martens he expected a necessary majority to be attained to endorse Barroso in July.

Martens said his party was "proud" that Barroso had received unanimous backing.

He added, "I am delighted with the decision of the European council, particularly since the recommendations of yesterday's EPP summit were followed by all 27 EU leader," he said.

"I expect that in the coming days and with appropriate consultationswith the newly-formed political groups, we will find the necessarymajority in the European parliament for his election in July," he said.

EPP chairman Joseph Daul, added, "Europeans need us to solve their problems, not create scapegoats.

"The EPP group is supporting Barroso because he is part of this work. I call on other political families to contribute constructively to this common effort."

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