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The Barroso Commission is the European Commission that has been in office since 22 November 2004 and is due to serve until 31 October , 2009 . Its President is José Manuel Barroso , who presides over 26 other commissioners (one from Each State ). The Barroso Commission was originally set to take office on 1 November . However, strong opposition from the European Parliament towards the first proposed composition of the Barroso Commission forced Barroso, as President-designate, to withdraw his proposal. A revised Commission was finally approved by Parliament on 18 November . With Bulgaria and Romania 's Accession to the European Union , the Commission was expanded from 25 to 27 Commissioners. PRESIDENT ''''']] The President is the former Prime Minister Of Portugal ; José Manuel Barroso . He took over from former Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi who served from 1999 ( Prodi Commission ). He is a member of the European People's Party and was appointed by the European Council in June 2004 in response to the victory of the EPP-ED in the 2004 European Elections . This was the first time the Commission President had been appointed according to the results of the latest European Elections . Some of Barroso's stated aims are to tackle voter apathy and Euroscepticism , visible during those elections, to work with the United States and to develop a "defence identity." Barroso insists he will control portfolios : More women sought as EU commissioners iht.com 23/06/04 Barroso comes from a small integrationist state and had become unpopular due to his economic policies. Commission president: Key candidates news.bbc.co.uk 27/06/04 His government had backed the United States in the approved him as President by 413, although there were difficulties over his choice of Commissioners (see below). He has earned some criticism due to his leadership of the expanded Commission — with it being notably more Presidential than his predecessors EU commission sees civil servants' power grow euobserver.com 22/02/07 while acting in favour of larger states in order to secure a desired second term in office. Barroso accused of currying favour with biggest states ft.com 22/12/06 European politics to get more political , EU Observer 27/06/07. COMMISSIONERS Member states appoint one Commissioner each (including the President). It is the first Commission where larger member-states do not have two Commissioners and the first full Commission following the 2004 enlargement. From 2004 there were 25 members, raising to 27 from 2007. There are 8 women in the college (7 before 2007) and no ethnic minorities. Most Commissioners (20) were born in the 1940 s and 1950 s with the youngest member being Olli Rehn (b. 1962 ) and the oldest being Jacques Barrot (b. 1937 ). Most members are former ministers with links to the Union, for example being Foreign Minister , Minister for European Affairs or represented their country in Accession Talks or at the European Convention . In addition to Barroso both Siim Kallas and Vladimír Špidla are former Prime Minister s. Viviane Reding is the only Commissioner with a background in the European Parliament. Politically they come from each of the major political parties; the European Liberal Democrat And Reform Party (8), the European People's Party (8) and the Party Of European Socialists (6). In addition there are 4 Independents and one member of the Alliance For Europe Of The Nations . Barroso had been complemented for balancing the portfolios between countries, such as between small and large, new and old and pro and anti (Iraq) war BM: The new Commission - some initial thoughts bmbrussels.be 2004. Before 2007 there were only 7 Liberals and 3 Independents. The list of Commissioners below uses the following colour key of political leanings from 2007; College Secretary-General The Secretary-General for this term was Catherine Day , appointed in 2005 . She was the first woman to hold the post and took over from David O'Sullivan who served from 2000 and subsequently became director-general for Trade. Ms. Day was part of a vast reshuffle of Commission officials by the President after he came to power. The reshuffle was welcomed by the right wing as the new director-generals, including Ms. Day, were liberal reformers, many British and German. A move which did not go down well with France, symbolic of their loss of influence, who were opposed to Ms. Day due to her liberal economic reforms. Indeed, Ms. Day became very notable in the Commission for her opposition to French State Aid policies. Inside Brussels" Right turn ahead ft.com 10/11/05 (subscription only, free version available here ) HISTORY See also: Some major themes throughout the Barroso Commission have been Enlargement , the Lisbon Strategy , the Constitution , the Bolkestein Directive and the development of an Energy Policy . Numerous other events took place throughout Barroso's administration; : 2004
: 2005
: 2006
: 2007
Presidential candiates The Parliament approved Barroso as President on 22 July 2004 by 413 votes to 215 (44 abstentions). Most of his support came from the EPP-ED group. Barroso rejected the idea of a "supercommissioner" and desired 1/3 of the Commission to be women (which he achieved) and that the most powerful portfolios should be handed to those most capable, not those from larger states. Election of the European Commission europarl.europa.eu 22/10/04 MEPs confirm new Brussels chief news.bbc.co.uk 22/07/04 Barroso insists he will control portfolios : More women sought as EU commissioners iht.com 23/06/04 Other possible Presidents that had been discussed included; Two more candidates for Commission President epha.org 18/06/04 Commission president: Key candidates news.bbc.co.uk 27/06/04 Choosing a New EU Commission President dw-world.de 16/06/04 Ingrida Udre ''First Proposed - Taxation and Customs Union'']] Appointment of the Commissioners The first announced list of portfolio holders was announced by President-designate Barroso on 12 August , but failed to be approved by the European Parliament. The difference between the first proposed composition and the final one were the following:
Hearings before the committees of the European Parliament questioned the suitability of several of the candidates; László Kovács , for insufficient professional competence in the energy field; Ingrida Udre , over allegations of irregularities in the funding of her political party; Neelie Kroes , for insufficient detailed grasp of certain specific subjects; and Mariann Fischer-Boel , for insufficient determination to defend European farmer's interests, and an unwillingness to enter into a dialogue with the parliament. Rocco Buttiglione ''First Proposed - Vice-President; Justice, Freedom, & Security'']] However the most controversial proposed commissioner was Buttiglione due to his expressed views on Homosexuality and Women . Though he had the support of the European People's Party (the largest of the European Parliament Party Groups ), the Socialists and the Liberals refused to vote for a commission that retained Buttiglione with the justice portfolio. With rejection by the European Parliament seeming likely, on 27 October 2004, Barroso withdrew his proposal for the new commission. Later Italy's government announced its withdrawal of Buttiglione as designate commissioner, nominating Franco Frattini in his place. At Barroso's request, Latvia's government likewise withdrew Ingrida Udre, nominating Andris Piebalgs in her place. Andris Piebalgs had previously served as '' Chef De Cabinet '' to Sandra Kalniete , Latvia's member of the Prodi Commission . Lastly Hungarian Laszlo Kovacs was moved to the taxation and customs position. No action was taken over Neelie Kroes or Mariann Fischer-Boel. Barroso's Commission faced another scandal on when the new Commission line up was being approved. It was revealed by United Kingdom Independence Party MEP Nigel Farage that Jacques Barrot , the commissioner from France , had been convicted of Fraud in 2000 . Following his conviction, Barrot had received a presidential amnesty from Jacques Chirac , making it illegal in France to even mention his conviction. Members of the , having served as Commissioner for Regional Policy under Romano Prodi . Estonian November 2004 with the support of the major parties (449 votes in favour, 149 against and 82 abstentions). The Commission took office 22 days later than originally planned. 2007 Enlargement , Romanian Membership Of The European Union )'' (left) and Meglena Kuneva (right) with President Barroso (centre)]] To accommodate them Consumer Protection was split from the Health & Consumer Protection and given to Bulgarian, Meglena Kuneva . The portfolio had a warm reception for being large and popular. Romania originally proposed Senator Varujan Vosganian , however he quickly met with opposition from Socialist MEP s for having no "European profile" among other things. That nomination was replaced by Leonard Orban and he was given the portfolio of Multilingualism . This however was met a cool reception for being such a slim portfolio. MEP Martin Schulz ( PES ) suggested it should instead focus on ethnic minorities but this was rejected by Barroso. Both were approved by the Parliament on 12 December 2007 : Orban with 595 votes in favour, 16 against and 29 abstentions. Kuneva with 583 votes "in favour", 21 votes "against" and 28 votes "abstentions". The two countries accession treaties outlined for the first time a legal obligation to consult parliament. With the Commission increasing from 25 to 27 members, the already large Commission increased further. Although after the 1 May 2004 enlargement the Commission was 30 members strong the Barroso Commission is the largest full term Commission thus far. President Barroso has adopted a more presidential style of leadership compared to some previous Presidents as a result; which has earned him some criticism EU commission sees civil servants' power grow euobserver.com 22/02/07. He has been particularly criticised in this area where he is seen to be acting in favour of the larger states, with some accusing him of attempting to curry favour from those states in order to secure a second mandate (for 2009-2014) Barroso accused of currying favour with biggest states ft.com 22/12/06. Concern has been expressed by Commissioner such as which would see its membership shrink to two-thirds of the member-states. This would mean currently there would be 18 Commissioner for the 27 Member-states . Political involvement s for neglecting his duties and getting involved in national politics. The European Parliament 's Development Committee asked the Parliament's Legal Service to assess if his participation is a violation of the treaties MEPs call for Michel’s resignation European Voice 2007. Michel is not alone in a would gain greater prominence and would give them greater ability to run candidates for Commission President (a commonly touted idea). If he gains the backing of the People's Party, Barroso may run for a second Presidency as their candidate. European politics to get more political , EU Observer 27/06/07, Accessed June 27 2007. Party funds In August 2007, a scandal arose around party funds when Barroso was still the leader of the Portuguese Social Democratic Party . Although it is seen as a national matter, it is seen by some as a matter of the President's integrity. MEPs are asking to question Barroso on the matter while Portuguese authorities investigate.Goldirova, Renata ( 2007-08-27 ) Barroso faces questions over domestic scanda , EU Observer. 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