Barroso belooft gelijkheid tussen leden Europese Commissie (en)

EUOBSERVER / STRASBOURG - On the eve of a deciding vote by MEPs, José Manuel Durao Barroso has pledged to work openly with the European Parliament if he is confirmed as European Commission president.

Speaking in his, by now, trademark several languages, the 48-year old former Portuguese Prime Minister gave a clear speech to try and convince MEPs to vote in favour of his nomination for the top post in November.

He made a strong attempt to counter the concerns that he will be bullied by large member states into running a hierarchical commission - with big countries getting the best portfolios.

He promised that the next Commission would work as a "team".

"I shall not be a president of the right against the left, the left against the right. I shall not be a president of one part of Europe against another part of Europe... I undertake to work with all," Mr Barroso said.

No hierarchy

He said the next Commission should have a greater proportion of women and added that "there will not be first class or second class commissioners in the Commission that I shall preside over".

With this statement he has gone against the wishes of the biggest EU member state - Germany - which wants to create a powerful super commissioner.

The political groups of the parliament will be holding meetings this evening to discuss the position that they will be taking in Thursday's vote.

Mr Barroso is likely to get the support of the centre-right EPP and right-wing UEN, but the left-wing GUE group and the Greens have said publicly that they would be voting against him.

The Socialist group is likely to be split while the Liberals, on the other hand, praised Mr Barroso for his "candour and competence" and for speaking "charismatically and confidently" about his vision for Europe.

"We asked for clarity on the subject of Super Commissioners, a better gender mix in the Commission and a commitment to transparency and individual accountability for Commissioners", the Liberal and Democrat leader Graham Watson said.

"We listened closely to your remarks this afternoon, and my group will reflect on what you have said and come to a common view on your candidacy".

Deputies will be voting in a secret ballot meaning that it is less easy to predict which way political group members will vote.

A simple majority among the 732 MEPs is needed for the Portuguese to get the job.

Should Mr Barroso fail to get the approval of the parliament, EU leaders would have to come up with a new name.

"If you are not elected as Commission President, at least you will have time for more holidays", the Greens co-president Daniel Cohn-Bendit remarked earlier this month.