V-day for Barroso's EU executive, new powers for MEPs

José Manuel Barroso will take the EU's helm on Monday after winning over two thirds of MEPs to his new European Commission line-up.

A joint resolution to give the European Parliament new powers has ended an unprecedented three week stand-off between the EU executive and MEPs.

The European Commission president’s margin of victory, in a vote confirming his team, is well ahead of the 413 votes – or 58 per cent of votes cast – he secured when confirmed in his job by MEPs in July.

With 449 votes in favour - 66 per cent of the 680 cast - Barroso will regard his majority as a stablising factor after a period of damaging uncertainty.

"I am extremely happy with this result," he told journalists.

"Sixty six per cent supported the commission, it means two thirds, I am very happy and honoured."

Support at a price

MEP opposition to the original commission team has triggered resignations, sackings and reshuffled policy portfolios among the 25-strong Brussels executive.

Barroso defended his decision to "stop the clock" on October 27 by postponing a vote on his team amid strong opposition from MEPs.

"If I was not wise enough to postpone that vote... we could have had a serious crisis," he said.

But support in the parliament has come at a price, Barroso must now negotiate with a parliament demanding new powers of oversight over his commission.

The former Portuguese leader played up the postive - both for the commission and the parliament.

"I see this as a win win situation. We can both win," he said.

MEP power

In a separate vote, MEPs overwhelmingly backed - with 478 or 72 per cent of the 660 votes cast - a new blueprint giving extra clout to parliament's scrutiny of Brussels.

The joint resolution, signed by the parliament's three largest political groups, will now become the basis for a new inter-institutional agreement between MEPs and Barroso.

“I take note of the resolution you have just voted and I look forward to examining it closely,” said Barroso.

“However my first impression is that it can provide a good basis for us to reach agreement on how to work together over the coming five years.”

“Those arrangements should be formalised through an early updating of the framework agreement adopted in 1999 between our two institutions.”

Opposition to the proposals was registered by 98 MEPs and 84 European deputies abstained.

Votes on new EU chiefs

In return for support MEPs are seeking the power to demand a commissioner’s head after a negative vote in parliament and rights to approve any future reshuffles.

The wish-list of MEP demands is acceptable to Barroso but he will be seeking to keep control of his team when drawing up the small-print of a new convention between parliament and commission in the coming weeks.

“Commissioners will resign if I ask them to do so, I will of course examine very seriously any criticism expressed by the parliament regarding the performance of commissioners,” Barroso said.

“I stand ready to explain to this parliament the conclusions that I draw. In this way we affirm the individual responsibility of each commissioner without calling into question the principle of collegiality.”

In a major concession to the parliament Barroso will in future clear any reshuffles or Brussels job changes with MEPs.

“I can therefore agree that new commissioner members should not appear officially… before they have met with the relevant parliamentary committee,” he told MEPs.

“In the event of a reshuffle of my team I accept a similar obligation that commissioners whose portfolios change should not appear officially… until they have appeared before the relevant parliamentary committee.”

Small-print

But Barroso failed to assure MEPs that he could accept a request for a full parliament vote on reshuffled or new commissioner members.

"I will not anticipate now the constructive dialogue that will follow," he later told journalists.

"I don't think it is now wise to go into the detail... now we have to go for the detail and we will in the next weeks and months."

New line-up

MEPs are flushed with success and showing new confidence after forcing the resignation of Rocco Buttiglione and triggering a commission reshuffle.

The new EU executive sees Italian foreign minister Franco Frattini replacing Buttiglione in the EU justice job.

Latvia’s Andris Piebalgs replaces Ingrida Udre, who was criticised by parliament and then sacked by the Riga government. He takes over the EU energy portfolio.

Hungary’s Laszlo Kovács saves his skin after a rough ride in the parliament but is downgraded with a switch to taxation.

Kroesing for a bruising

The new settlement between MEPs and Barroso may be an early warning of trouble ahead – he must brace for criticism and possible upsets over Dutch commissioner Neelie Kroes.

Her extensive business past rules the competition chief out of key decisions to avoid possible conflicts of interest – hostile left and Green MEPs are watching.

The text agreed by parliament will see Barroso hauled in front of MEPs if the assembly should veto an individual commissioner over concerns on possible conflicts of interests.

"If the parliament votes to withdraw confidence...in an individual member of the commission, the president of the commission will consider seriously whether he should request that member to resign," states the text.

"The president [Barroso] shall either require the resignation of that member or justify his refusal to do so before parliament."

Current convention only requires Barroso to “seriously consider” opposition and does not compel him to act on a parliament vote of no confidence.

In a dramatic change to the status quo, if agreed by Barroso, a commissioner’s resignation or an EU executive reshuffle will trigger a parliament vote – an entirely new power.

And Barroso could face a re-run of his current his difficulties in 2007 after the new EU constitution triggers a new line-up as Javier Solana enters the commission as Europe’s ‘foreign minister’.

"In the event of a resignation the replacement commissioner will not appear before parliament or council in an official capacity until his or her nomination has been validated by the normal parliamentary procedure (audition and vote in plenary)", declares the resolution.

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