News Release
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José Manuel Durão Barroso |
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No. 152/04
October 27, 2004
EUROPEAN COMMISSION: BUSINESS AS USUAL
Following the decision by Commission President-Designate
José Manuel Durão Barroso to postpone submitting his line-up for the new
College of Commissioners to the European
Parliament for its approval today, current President
Romano Prodi has confirmed that his team will remain in place for an interim
period beyond 31 October, until the new Commission team is approved by the European
Parliament.
President-Designate Barroso explained his decision to the European Parliament
in Strasbourg:
"Mr. President, Honourable members, I have asked to take the floor at
this point because I think it is important that I share with you my analysis of
the present situation. I have listened very attentively to yesterday's
debate. I have had extensive contacts with the group
leaders and I have also spoken with the President of the European Council.
I have come to the conclusion that if a vote is taken today, the outcome will
not be positive for European Institutions or for the European project. In these
circumstances, I have decided not to submit a New Commission for your approval
today. I need more time to look at this issue and to consult with the European
Council further so that we can have strong support for the new Commission. It
is better to take time to get it right. These last days have demonstrated that
the European Union is a strong political construction and that this Parliament,
elected by popular vote across all our member states, has a vital role to play
in the governance of Europe. I was honoured to have received your support as president
designate in July. I committed myself then to work actively with you in the European
interest I renew that commitment today. I think we can agree, Mr. President, on
our common commitment to reinforce the democratic nature of European integration,
and I would hope that we can arrive at an outcome in the next few weeks which
will permit us to take forward work in the European Union in this spirit. I can
always offer you a loyal cooperation for the good of Europe."
The President
of the Council of the European Union, Dutch
Prime Minister Jan
Pieter Balkenende has contacted the current Commission President Romano Prodi
and asked him officially to remain
in office until the new Commission is voted in by the European Parliament.
President Prodi has agreed to continue in office for the time being in order to
ensure institutional continuity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the European
Commission do?
The Commission is the politically independent institution that represents
and upholds the interests of the EU as a whole. It is the driving force within
the EU’s institutional system: it proposes legislation, policies and programs
of action and it is responsible for implementing the decisions of Parliament and
the Council. Like the Parliament and Council, the European Commission was set
up in the 1950s under the EU’s founding treaties.
The Commission is headed at a political level by the President and his team (“College”)
of Commissioners, who each cover in their portfolios
all areas of EU policy. The Commission is also the EU’s independent civil service
composed of permanent civil servants who remain in place independently of changes
at the political level.
How often and when are the President and College of Commissioners appointed?
A new Commission team is appointed every 5 years for a 5-year term, within
6 months of the elections to the European Parliament (held in June 2004).
What is the procedure for their appointment?
The procedure has a number of stages:
• The Heads of the Member State governments
(European Council) agree together on whom to designate as the new Commission President.
• The European Parliament holds a confirmation hearing and votes “up or down”
on the Commission President-Designate.
• Member States provide and jointly agree with the Commission President-Designate
on nominees for his team. He/she then decides on the distribution of portfolios
within the team.
• The European Parliament then holds individual hearings for the Commissioners
designated to specific jobs.
• The Commission President-Designate submits his team for approval by the Parliament.
The Parliament then votes up or down on the entire team.
• Once approved by the Parliament, the new President and his team of Commissioners
can officially start work.
So what happened today?
The Commission President-Designate decided to postpone submitting his team
for Parliament’s approval to allow him more time to “get it right.” He has said
he will consult with both Parliament and the Member States before submitting his
team to the vote “in the next few weeks.”
Does that mean the EU is left without a Commission President or Commission
team?
No. The current team led by President Prodi will stay on until the new team
is ready to take over. So it’s business as usual!
For further information on the Commission and the EU institutions go to:
http://europa.eu.int/institutions/index_en.htm
http://europa.eu.int/institutions/comm/index_en.htm
