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MEPs facing the Barroso case

West-France - edition dated 16/07/2009

The reappointment of the President of the European Commission is subject to many conditions: he will respond to them in September.

(Strasbourg) Even if the 27 Heads of State and Government have proposed to renew the Christian Democrat José-Manuel Barroso at the head of the European Commission, this appointment no longer seems as certain as at the beginning of July. Several political groups took advantage of the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg to plant banderillas in this candidacy. Each in their own style!

List of “valid” candidates

Greens chairman Daniel Cohn-Bendit, used to shooting first, began by citing a list of candidates “equally valid”. For example, the British conservative, Chris Patten, or the former Irish president, Mary Robinson. As a consolation prize, he proposed that Barroso take the post, created by the Lisbon Treaty, of the first president of the European Council. More brutally, Martin Schulz, the leader of the Socialists, attacked head on. “His behavior is partisan and opportunistic. This does not correspond to the image I have of a President of the Commission” he explained, demanding a "action program" more precise.

The leader of the liberal group, Guy Verhofstadt, refused to attack the man. But he also asked for more ambition and audacity. He wants the Commission to put in place a vast European recovery plan, with a major loan, new budgetary resources, the creation of a post of European financial supervisor and the appointment of a European commissioner on human rights. of man and public freedoms. Basically, the complete opposite of the policy followed for five years by Barroso.

Attacks so strong that the President of the EPP, Joseph Daul, as well as Michel Barnier, stepped up to defend their foal. The result will be known in the fall. José-Manuel Barroso, who is due to present his program in September, has plenty to work on during the holidays. With a real risk, now, of not passing the passing exam.

Nicolas GROS-VERHEYDE.

Nicolas Gros Verheyde

Chief editor of the B2 site. Graduated in European law from the University of Paris I Pantheon Sorbonne and listener to the 65th session of the IHEDN (Institut des Hautes Etudes de la Défense Nationale. Journalist since 1989, founded B2 - Bruxelles2 in 2008. EU/NATO correspondent in Brussels for Sud-Ouest (previously West-France and France-Soir).

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