European Parliament Approves Barroso II European Commission

A combo of undated photographs showing the new commissioners of the EU-commission. On 09 February 2010 the European Parliament approved the new personnel of the EU commission, after a three month delay in Strasbourg, France. Photo by EPA/BGNES

The new 27-strong team of European commissioners got the approval of the members of the European Parliament in a vote on Friday.

A total of 488 MEPs voted for the proposed members of the new European Commission chaired by incumbent EC President Jose Manuel Barroso, 237 voted against and 72 abstained.

Following is a list of the new European Commissioners:

Joaqu ín ALMUNIA: Competition. Vice-President of the Commission.

László ANDOR: Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion.

Baroness Catherine ASHTON: High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security and Vice-President of the Commission.

Michel BARNIER: Internal Market and Services.

Dacian CIOLOS: Agriculture and Rural Development.

John DALLI: Health and Consumer Policy.

Maria DAMANAKI: Maritime Affairs and Fisheries.

Karel DE GUCHT: Trade.

Štefan FÜLE: Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy. *

Johannes HAHN: Regional Policy.

Connie HEDEGAARD: Climate Action.

Maire GEOGHEGAN-QUINN: Research and Innovation.

Kristalina GEORGIEVA: International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response.*

Siim KALLAS: Transport. Vice-President of the Commission.

Neelie KROES: Digital Agenda. Vice-President of the Commission.

Janusz LEWANDOWSKI: Budget and Financial Programming.

Cecilia MALMSTRÖM: Home Affairs.

Günter OETTINGER: Energy.

Andris PIEBALGS: Development.*

Janez POTO?NIK: Environment.

Viviane REDING: Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship. Vice-President of the Commission.

Olli REHN: Economic and Monetary Affairs.

Maroš ŠEF?OVI? : Vice-President of the Commission for Inter-Institutional Relations and Administration.

Algirdas ŠEMETA: Taxation and Customs Union, Audit and Anti-Fraud.

Antonio TAJANI: Industry and Entrepreneurship. Vice-President of the Commission.

Androulla VASSILIOU: Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth.

The 27-strong commmission has 13 conservative members, including Barroso, as well as 8 liberal ones and 6 affiliated to the socialist group.

The Commission is the EU's executive arm, responsible for drafting EU laws and ensuring that the 27 member states comply with the EU treaties.

Before the vote the conservative European People's Party (EPP), the largest in parliament, said it would vote in favour. The other two main factions in the assembly, the Socialists and Democrats (S&D) and the Liberal-democrats (ALDE) were more critical, but also backed the new commission.

The head of the Green group, former 1960s firebrand leader Daniel Cohn-Bendit, led the 'no' camp.

"We are staring at a coalition of hypocrites: just a few days before Valentine's Day, they tell Mr Barroso 'We don't believe you but we will vote for you'", he joked.

Cohn-Bendit was particularly scathing against S&D chief Martin Schulz, suggesting he decided to support Barroso to curry the EPP's favour for his political ambitions.

"I don't why do you get angry, you are not yet the president of the European Parliament, be calm comrade," the Green leader told Schulz.

Other smaller groups - the hard-left European United Left (GUE), right-wingers from the Europe of Freedom and Democracy (EFD) – were set to join the Greens in rejecting the EU executive. The British Tory-led European Conservatives and Reformists' group (ECR) said they would back it.

Each commissioner has already faced a hearing in the European Parliament.

Bulgaria's first nominee, Rumiana Jeleva, failed to convince MEPs about her suitability for the job, so she was replaced by Kristalina Georgieva.

The parliament's vote on the whole Commission was delayed by three months because ratification of the Lisbon Treaty was not completed until November.

Under the treaty, the number of commissioners will be reduced by a third by 2014. So this will be the last time MEPs voted for a Commission with candidates drawn from every member state.

The president of the Commission, veteran Portuguese conservative Jose Manuel Barroso, has already been approved for a second term by the EU government leaders.

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