The Italian prime minister, Mr Silvio Berlusconi, has named his foreign minister Franco Frattini as a replacement for the controversial Rocco Buttiglione as the Italian nomination for EU Commissioner.
Mr Barroso said Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini would replace ousted Rocco Buttiglione as justice and security chief, Hungarian Laszlo Kovacs would switch from energy to taxation, new Latvian nominee Andris Piebalgs would take the energy brief and Dutchwoman Neelie Kroes would keep the competition porfolio.
Naming Mr Buttiglione's replacement breaks the deadlock and paves the way for Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso to complete his mini-reshuffle to ensure no repeat rejection when the European Parliament finally votes to approve the whole team.
Ireland's EU Commissioner designate Charlie McCreevy was tonight renominated to the Internal Markets portfolio.
That could now be as soon as November 17, after confirmation hearings in Brussels next week when Euro-MPs will effectively carry out job interviews with Mr Frattini and any other newcomers in the reshuffle who have not already been vetted for suitability.
Mr Frattini, a former magistrate, who is at the Brussels summit with his Mr Berlusconi is expected to slot straight into the Justice and Home Affairs job - the dossier considered too sensitive for a man with Mr Buttiglione's views on homosexuals, single mums, and the role of women.
The replacement of Ms Udre, plus a possible job shuffle for Hungarian Commissioner-designate Laszlo Kovacs, should, Mr Barroso hopes, appease MEPs and prevent any repeat rejection of his Commission team.