By Martin Banks - 23rd June 2009
I am proud to leave the regional portfolion in very good shape
Danuta Hubner
Danuta Hübner has confirmed she will take up her seat in the new parliament.
The Polish regional affairs official told journalists on Tuesday she will formally resign from the commission tomorrow.
However, she may still not fill the seat she was elected to as she has refused to rule out the possibility of returning in the next commission when it takes up office later this year.
Hübner has been an EU commissioner since May 2004 and won a seat in the recent European elections with a landslide vote.
She told Polish reporters she would inform the speaker of the Polish parliament of her decision on Wednesday.
She said that as an MEP she will seek membership of a committee with an economic portfolio, such as the internal market or industry and research committee.
She said, "I have decided to take up my seat in parliament after the huge support I received in Warsaw in the elections. That encouraged me to make this decision.
"I am proud to leave the regional portfolio in very good shape. It is a policy that addresses the challenges Europe faces today.
"I am also proud that in the last five years we have seen the successful integration of new member states, something that was very close to my heart. We have successfully reunited two parts of Europe."
It is believed Warsaw will appoint an interim commissioner for the short time that remains of the current Barroso executive.
She did not rule out the possibility of serving a second term in the commission, saying the "knowledge and experience" she had gained over recent years would allow her to "serve in both" parliament and the commission.
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