New EU commission meet

The EU’s new executive gathers for an informal “team building” session on Friday.

José Manuel Barroso's 24-strong team have to meet face-to-face and the August 20 session will see the new Brussels chief set out his reorganisation of the European Commission.

The former Portuguese leader and successor to Romano Prodi last Thursday announced which commissioner will get what policy portfolio amid a shake-up of the EU executive’s structure.

“It is an informal meeting, because the new commission takes formal office on November 1. It is an informal meeting to have first contact between commissioners to start building the team and to work on team-building… and to discuss some internal matters of internal organisation of the commission,” said the official Brussels spokesman.

Nominees for the EU executive will be meeting next door to the commission’s Berlaymont home - repairs on the building which house all 25 commissioners are not yet complete.

Barroso’s team will meet in the morning and continue getting to know each other over a working lunch, finishing in mid-afternoon.

The current commission does not meet again until September 3.

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