Latvia became the first of the new European Union members to name its European Commissioner yesterday, saying Foreign Minister Ms Sandra Kalniete will join the executive when the Baltic state enters the union in May.
Each of the 10 new members, mostly from former communist eastern Europe, has until the end of January to say who will represent them on the Commission, the powerful body which proposes and enforces European legislation.
Latvian Prime Minister Mr Einars Repse told Commission President Romano Prodi he would formally nominate Ms Kalniete, the country's EU mission said in a statement.
"Romano Prodi confirmed to me that he agrees with this candidature, and expressed his wish to meet her soon to discuss future cooperation," Mr Repse said.
EU officials said the new commissioners will have no specific portfolio for the first six months.
They will sit until the current commission mandate ends in October, swelling the number of commissioners to 30, and may then be re-nominated.
The Commission will then shrink to 25, one per member state.
Among the bigger newcomers, Poland's leading candidate for commissioner has been EU affairs minister Ms Danuta Huebner, although some local politicians say she may yet be dropped.
Possible nominations in the Czech Republic include EU ambassador Pavel Telicka, who negotiated its accession, and two former finance ministers, Pavel Mertlik and Iva Pilip.
Mr Prodi has been campaigning to increase the number of women on the EU executive. There are only four in the 20-member commission . - (Reuters)