Belgische minister van Buitenlandse Zaken Michel in de race voor post Europese Commissie (en)

Belgian Foreign Minister Louis Michel may become the next Belgian Commissioner, according to Belgian media reports today (7 July).

Negotiations on the issue are currently going on between the French-speaking Belgian socialist and liberal parties.

According to sources close to the negotiations, the socialists, who currently hold the Commission post, may grant the position to Mr Michel, who is a liberal.

Mr Michel has refused to comment on what he calls "only a hypothesis".

The current Belgian portfolio within the Commission is Research, occupied by the ex-president of the Belgian French-speaking Socialist Party Philippe Busquin.

However, La Libre Belgique notes that Mr Michel would rather be interested in an external relations-related portfolio such as Enlargement or Development.

During his job as Belgian Foreign Minister - which he has filled since 1999 - Mr Michel has become known for his outspoken criticism of American policy towards Iraq, as well as for his ambitious peacemaking efforts, notably in Africa.

Irish and Dutch want agriculture

Meanwhile, a source within the Commission told the EUobserver that both the Irish and the Dutch are lobbying for the relatively weighty post of agriculture.

Not only are both countries are important exporters of agricultural products, the Dutch are also particularly keen to cut back the EU's budget - consisting to a large extent of agricultural expenses.

Dutch media have reported that the Dutch are pushing for their current agriculture minister Cees Veerman for the post, who would enjoy Franco-German support.

Legally, the appointment of Commissioners is the sole competence of the president -elect of the new Commission - former Portuguese Prime Minister José Manuel Durao Barroso.

However, member states all try and use their political power to ensure the Commission posts they want.

France and Germany have demanded big economic portfolios in the next commission in return for their support of the Portuguese leader as next head of the Brussels executive.