Latvian move eases Barroso's task

LATVIA: Latvia has replaced its nominee for the new European Commission, easing Mr José Manuel Barroso's task as he seeks the…

LATVIA: Latvia has replaced its nominee for the new European Commission, easing Mr José Manuel Barroso's task as he seeks the support of the European Parliament for a reshuffled team, writes Denis Staunton in Brussels

The withdrawal of Ms Ingrida Udre, who has been accused of party funding irregularities, follows Saturday's decision by the controversial Italian nominee, Mr Rocco Buttiglione, to stand down.

Latvia's decision to replace Ms Udre, who was due to be taxation commissioner, with Mr Andris Piebalgs, a former finance minister and ambassador to the EU, followed a request from the European Commission President.

Mr Barroso withdrew his entire team from consideration by MEPs last week rather than face certain rejection over concerns about Mr Buttiglione, Ms Udre and three other nominees.

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The other commissioners-designate who faced criticism were Hungary's Mr Laszlo Kovacs, who was due to be energy commissioner, the Netherlands's Ms Neelie Kroes, who was due to take over the competition portfolio, and Denmark's Ms Mariann Fischer Boel, who was earmarked for the agriculture post.

Mr Barroso hopes to present a new line-up to EU leaders when they meet in Brussels tomorrow but Hungary and the Netherlands made clear yesterday that they were unwilling to change their nominees.

Hungary's Prime Minister Mr Ferenc Gyurcsany yesterday dismissed speculation that he was ready to withdraw Mr Kovacs, a message the country's European Affairs Minister, Mr Etele Barath, repeated in Brussels.

"We believe that there is no reason to withdraw our candidate, Mr Kovacs," he said.

MEPs criticised Mr Kovacs, a Socialist, for knowing too little about the portfolio he hoped to take over, and expressed concerns that former business links could prevent Ms Kroes, a Liberal, from fulfilling her responsibilities impartially.

MEPs are likely to accept a move for Ms Kroes to another portfolio but the centre-right European People's Party, the European Parliament's largest group, is expected to demand the sacking of Mr Kovacs as revenge for Mr Buttiglione's removal.

MEPs will have to hold fresh hearings for new nominees and for commissioners-designate who are moved to different posts. Mr Barroso hopes, however, to present his new team to the Parliament for approval during the week of November 15th.

A move by the Commission into its refurbished Berlaymont headquarters that was due to be completed yesterday has been postponed until the new Commission is approved.

Mr Romano Prodi's Commission, which was due to leave office on Sunday, will remain in place until further notice, and temporary Commission staff who were due to depart with Mr Prodi have seen their contracts extended until the end of this year.

Mr Barroso's attempt to reconstruct his Commission is set to dominate this week's summit, which was originally due to focus on economic competitiveness and a new five-year plan to enhance co-operation in the field of justice and home affairs.

EU foreign ministers yesterday agreed to drop a proposal to introduce qualified majority voting on issues concerning legal immigration - a move that could have led to immigration quotas for each member-state.