EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Any attempt by EU leaders this week to formally nominate Jose Manuel Barroso for a second term as European Commission will come a cropper in the European Parliament on procedural grounds, a senior MEP warned on Tuesday (16 June). Daniel Cohn-Bendit, head of the Greens faction, said he believed there was a "sufficient majority" in the EU assembly to block Mr Barroso when the issue goes to vote in mid-July. "If we are to vote in July, then the debate will be on procedure," he said, adding that an alliance of "Liberal Democrats, Greens, Socialists and the far left" would be enough. Parliament is up in arms because a decision this week by EU leaders to formally back Mr Barroso would fall under the current Nice Treaty rules, whereas it voted in May by overwhelming majority to appoint the commission president under the yet-to-be-ratified Lisbon Treaty.
Daniel Cohn-Bendit, head of the Greens faction, said he believed there was a "sufficient majority" in the EU assembly to block Mr Barroso when the issue goes to vote in mid-July.
"If we are to vote in July, then the debate will be on procedure," he said, adding that an alliance of "Liberal Democrats, Greens, Socialists and the far left" would be enough.
Parliament is up in arms because a decision this week by EU leaders to formally back Mr Barroso would fall under the current Nice Treaty rules, whereas it voted in May by overwhelming majority to appoint the commission president under the yet-to-be-ratified Lisbon Treaty.
Incoming EU presidency Sweden says it wants full formal backing for Mr Barroso so it has a real partner to work with on major issues such as climate change when it takes over on 1 July. But Germany and France are reluctant to do this so they continue to have leverage over Mr Barroso when it comes to choosing portfolios for their future commissioners as well as over any plans he has for the commission's five year programme. The issue will be played out at the two-day council in Brussels, beginning Thursday. In the face of strong opposition from the parliament, EU leaders are set to give Mr Barroso only political backing at the summit. They are then due to consult political leaders in the parliament next week. The question is whether there will still be an attempt to give Mr Barroso legal certainty in July after the concerns of different factions in the parliament have been taken into account.
Incoming EU presidency Sweden says it wants full formal backing for Mr Barroso so it has a real partner to work with on major issues such as climate change when it takes over on 1 July.
But Germany and France are reluctant to do this so they continue to have leverage over Mr Barroso when it comes to choosing portfolios for their future commissioners as well as over any plans he has for the commission's five year programme.
The issue will be played out at the two-day council in Brussels, beginning Thursday. In the face of strong opposition from the parliament, EU leaders are set to give Mr Barroso only political backing at the summit. They are then due to consult political leaders in the parliament next week.
The question is whether there will still be an attempt to give Mr Barroso legal certainty in July after the concerns of different factions in the parliament have been taken into account.
