Tensions in Italy as EU justice job goes to France

Commission president José Manuel Barroso has confirmed that the EU’s justice portfolio will be reallocated to French commissioner Jacques Barrot, if, as expected, Franco Frattini resigns to take up a post in the new Italian government.

In a commission statement on his behalf, released on Tuesday, Barroso said he had decided to offer the portfolio to Barrot, the current transport commissioner, who has been caretaker justice chief since Frattini went on leave to campaign in the Italian elections.

“In order to fully ensure the coherence and effectiveness of the complex and sensitive work in the justice, liberty and security portfolio, the President has decided that in case Vice-President Frattini will resign from the Commission, he will ask Vice-President Barrot, who is currently replacing Vice-President Frattini in an outstanding way, to take responsibility for the portfolio for the rest of the mandate,” said the statement.

“In such a case, the replacement for Vice-President Frattini to be nominated by the Italian authorities will be in charge of the transport portfolio that is the current responsibility of Vice-President Barrot.”

However, the statement has been interpreted by some EU insiders as pre-empting any potential candidates that Italy’s premier-elect Silvio Berlusconi could put forward, and as a possible sign of Barroso’s annoyance at Frattini’s extended period of absence.

Italian centre-right MEP Antonio Tajani is the most likely candidate to be put forward by Berlusconi, and is understood to be happy with the prospect of taking up the transport portfolio.

But just last week, the EPP-ED group released a statement putting forward Tajani as “the ideal” successor to Frattini in the justice role.

In the release, German EPP-ED deputy Klaus-Heiner Lehne said, “Antonio Tajani has a proven track-record. He has strong managerial skills in European legal affairs and can foster the role of Europe in the world. Those are the two key factors a commissioner for justice and home affairs has to bring along.” 

Tensions have also allegedly arisen between Berlusconi and outgoing prime minister Romano Prodi over who will put forward Frattini’s replacement.

However, Frattini is expected to extend his leave until Berlusconi’s government has been created, which is likely to happen next week - rendering a Prodi nomination meaningless.

Meanwhile, European Liberal Democrat leader Graham Watson has strongly criticised the lack of guidelines over Frattini’s absence.

"We have no rules under which a commissioner can take a leave of absence,” he said in a press conference on Tuesday.

"I will urge [parliament’s president] Hans-Gert Pöttering to engage in a dialogue with the commission. It’s clear that this is an area where we need rather stronger provisions," he added.

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