Prodi to quit Brussels in November 2004

Romano Prodi will not take the helm of a new European Commission in November 2004, reveal sources close to the Brussels chief.

A June summit of Europe’s leaders will consider candidates for the EU’s top job but the former socialist Italian prime minister’s hat will not be in the ring.

Informed sources close to Prodi have told EUpolitix.com that, while he will stick out his full term at the head of the EU’s executive, the Bologna politician would not seek a second term.

“I don’t believe Prodi will be a candidate for the next commission president,” the source told this website.

“He is minded to be the new Italian prime minister and the centre left candidate in 2006 Italian elections.”

Irish premier Bertie Ahern let the cat out of the bag at a Dublin EU presidency press conference.

Speaking about how Europe’s heads of government would choose the commission’s next president, Ahern revealed that Prodi would not be stepping forward.

“We will certainly consult on the basis that we get the best person to carry on for the next five years after president Prodi, who has done an excellent job, leaves,” he told journalists.

Prodi will present a shortlist for ten new EU commissioners to Europe’s leaders by the end of February.

The European Commission’s 20-strong team is enlarged to 30 as ten new EU members join the European club in May 2004.

Commission president Prodi, who will head the enlarged executive until November 2004, must draw up a list of favoured candidates for jobs on the EU’s executive – posts that are likely to be filled by the same candidates for five years after November 2004.

“My deadline is the end of February, I think I am perfectly on time because the process is going well, so I shall give the list of the ten potential commissioners before the end of February,” Prodi told journalists.

And the centre-left politician played down his Italian ambitions, but hinted he will be elsewhere than Brussels in two years time.

“I simply remind you I do not know what I shall do when I grow up but the Italian election will only be in 2006,” he said.

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