By Martin Banks - 11th November 2009
We want a commission that maximizes its right of initiative
Guy Verhofstadt
The jockeying for position in the new commission is fast gathering momentum.
Speculation is mounting on the candidates likely to be put forward by member states for the 27-strong executive.
The latest rumours surround Meglena Kuneva, Bulgaria's commissioner for consumer affairs.
Despite being generally seen as a success in her term in office, it is thought likely she will be replaced, possibly by the country's foreign minister Rumiana Jeleva.
Austria's science minister Johannes Hahn is said to be a frontrunner to replace Benita Ferrero-Waldner as the country's member of the commission.
Britain's commissioner Catherine Ashton, responsible for the key trade post, wants to stay for another term but many commentators say she will be replaced in the new commission.
Connie Hedegaard, the Danish minister for climate and energy, is tipped to succeed Mariann Fischer Boel as Denmark's representative while Stavros Lambrinidis, the leader of the Greek PASOK delegation in parliament, is said to be a leading contender to replace Stavros Dimas as Greek commissioner.
Parliament will begin hearings on the commissioner-designates later this month before the new commission takes up office.
Meanwhile, the ALDE group, parliament's third biggest, says the new commission should "maximise its right of initiative and realise a coherent European policy".
The demand came during a debate on the new jobs created under the Lisbon treaty in parliament's Brussels plenary on Wednesday.
Group leader Guy Verhofstadt told MEPs, "Our vision on the future commission is clear. We want a commission that maximises its right of initiative and realises a coherent European policy.
"Therefore the next commission must function according to the fundamental rule of collegiality.
"However, and in order to increase its efficiency within the commission, we want an organisation based on clusters.
"Prior to college meetings, proposals from a given commissioner could be dealt with in the college only once they had been discussed within the relevant cluster."
The 'clusters,' he said, would be foreign action, innovation, climate and sustainability, financial and economic affairs and justice and home affairs.
"We insist that the promised commissioner on fundamental rights and civil liberties sits within the fourth cluster.
"In order to ensure greater efficiency and coordination, the membership of the clusters must not be closed but open to all commissioners, depending on the subject."
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