The EU's external relations commissioner, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, looks set to swap portfolios with her trade colleague Catherine Ashton once the Lisbon Treaty comes into effect on 1 December. The imminent switchover, divulged by a number of EU officials on Monday (23 November), will facilitate Ms Ashton's move to her new foreign policy job as the EU's high representative. Ms Ashton's departure had raised a question mark over who would take over in the important trade post, with a World Trade Organisation (WTO) ministerial conference set to take place in Geneva between 30 November and 2 December.
The imminent switchover, divulged by a number of EU officials on Monday (23 November), will facilitate Ms Ashton's move to her new foreign policy job as the EU's high representative.
Ms Ashton's departure had raised a question mark over who would take over in the important trade post, with a World Trade Organisation (WTO) ministerial conference set to take place in Geneva between 30 November and 2 December.
A leading group of MEPs on Friday (20 November) warned European Commission President José Manuel Barroso not to create a separate climate action department in the next EU executive, as rumours abound in Brussels that the environmental portfolio currently held by Stavros Dimas could be split in two. In a letter, the MEPs urged Barroso to keep the current environment portfolio and appoint an extra commissioner for climate action instead. "We still find no reason for reducing the portfolio of competences of your directorate-general for environment regarding climate policies," reads the letter, seen by EurActiv.
In a letter, the MEPs urged Barroso to keep the current environment portfolio and appoint an extra commissioner for climate action instead.
"We still find no reason for reducing the portfolio of competences of your directorate-general for environment regarding climate policies," reads the letter, seen by EurActiv.
The Greek government on Friday nominated Maria Damanaki, a member of the ruling Pasok party, to be the country's next member of the European Commission. Damanaki, 57, was elected to the Greek parliament in 1977 as a member of Greek Communist Party and later for Synaspismos, a left-wing party whose president she became in 1989. She won a place in parliament for Pasok, a socialist party, in 2003. Damanaki, a chemical engineer by training, has been a member of the parliamentary committee on culture, science and education.
Damanaki, 57, was elected to the Greek parliament in 1977 as a member of Greek Communist Party and later for Synaspismos, a left-wing party whose president she became in 1989. She won a place in parliament for Pasok, a socialist party, in 2003.
Damanaki, a chemical engineer by training, has been a member of the parliamentary committee on culture, science and education.
Conservative Climate Minister Connie Hedegaard is Brussels-bound as EU Climate Commissioner in an appointment likely to be announced at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, according to B.T. B.T.'s sources say that Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen has chosen Hedegaard as Denmark's commissioner partly because EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso wants more women in his commission, and partly because the Conservative Leader and Deputy Prime Minister Lene Espersen wants Hedegaard (Cons) in Brussels. The newspaper suggests that the only thing that can make Løkke Rasmussen change his mind is if the post of Climate Commissioner does not carry a heavy enough portfolio.
B.T.'s sources say that Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen has chosen Hedegaard as Denmark's commissioner partly because EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso wants more women in his commission, and partly because the Conservative Leader and Deputy Prime Minister Lene Espersen wants Hedegaard (Cons) in Brussels.
The newspaper suggests that the only thing that can make Løkke Rasmussen change his mind is if the post of Climate Commissioner does not carry a heavy enough portfolio.
British diplomats are fighting a rearguard action to prevent France from taking the key financial job in Brussels after Baroness Ashton of Upholland's appointment as foreign affairs chief. With Paris and Berlin setting their sights on controlling the EU's economic agenda, a former French Foreign Minister, Michel Barnier, is being tipped to take the plum commission portfolio overseeing the internal market and financial services. Germany is seeking the industry or energy jobs in the European Commission line-up due to be announced this month, while also preparing its national bank chairman to take over at the European Central Bank. The Times reported on Saturday that Lord Mandelson and other ministers advised Gordon Brown that he should have tried to secure an economic role for Britain rather than the foreign job won by Lady Ashton.
British diplomats are fighting a rearguard action to prevent France from taking the key financial job in Brussels after Baroness Ashton of Upholland's appointment as foreign affairs chief.
With Paris and Berlin setting their sights on controlling the EU's economic agenda, a former French Foreign Minister, Michel Barnier, is being tipped to take the plum commission portfolio overseeing the internal market and financial services.
Germany is seeking the industry or energy jobs in the European Commission line-up due to be announced this month, while also preparing its national bank chairman to take over at the European Central Bank.
The Times reported on Saturday that Lord Mandelson and other ministers advised Gordon Brown that he should have tried to secure an economic role for Britain rather than the foreign job won by Lady Ashton.
