Bolkestein wil tweede termijn in Europese Commissie alleen als nieuwe voorzitter voldoende kwaliteit heeft (en)

While several members of the Prodi Commission have already left the Brussels executive before its mandate ends in November, the Dutch Commissioner has indicated he is interested in a second term - but only if he is to work under a president that pleases him.

Frits Bolkestein said on Dutch radio over the weekend, according to NRC Handelsblad, that he will make his decision whether or not to run for a new post in the Commission "dependent on the quality of the new Commission president".

This means that the Dutchman will only decide on his candidature in June, when EU leaders choose a new Commission president.

The new Commission itself will be installed in November.

The 71-year old Commissioner has repeatedly expressed his pleasure in his "hugely interesting" work, but he has also confessed to Dutch media that he could imagine himself retired and writing books.

To spend his last professional years working under an incompetent future boss, however, would clearly be unacceptable to the Dutchman.

Meanwhile, Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende has urged Mr Bolkestein to make up his mind by the beginning of May.

Mr Balkenende is under pressure from left-wing opposition parties to provide clarity on the appointment of the next Dutch Commissioner.

The Labour Party has proposed its own candidate, the former state secretary for Culture and economics professor at the European University Institute, Rick van der Ploeg for the job.

It seems unlikely, however, that the centre-right majority in the Dutch parliament will endorse a social democrat as the Dutch Commissioner.