BRUSSELS, Aug 12 (AFP) - European Commission president-elect Jose Manuel Durao Barroso said Thursday his newly unveiled EU executive was a heavyweight team that would put economic growth at the heart of the bloc`s agenda.
After announcing the portfolios for the 24 commissioners who are to serve under him, including Britain`s Peter Mandelson, he said they would help Europe face its challenges.
"We will focus on delivering results. I want to put the commission in the driving seat of Europe, a Europe that really benefits our citizens," Portugal`s former prime minister told a news conference.
"My task was made easier by the high quality of commissioners. The team has wide experience of European affairs," he said, adding they were a balanced collection.
"There has never been before as many women in the commission. Commissioners from new countries have equally important portfolios as commissioners from the old 15 member states," he said.
"There will be no first- and second-class commissioners."
Barroso said his appointment of no less than five vice presidents, up from two in the outgoing commission, highlighted "the crucial importance I attach to certain challenges ahead of us".
Among the vice presidents, Sweden`s Margot Wallstroem will be in charge of relations with other EU institutions and communication strategy, in a bid to improve the commission`s often poor public image.
Barroso played up the economic role of Germany`s Guenter Verheugen, another of the vice-presidents who is transferred to a new job of enterprise and industry commissioner from his current enlargement post.
Barroso had overruled a push by Germany, with the backing of Britain and France, for a tailor-made role of "super-commissioner" to oversee economic affairs.
But he pointed to the responsibility that Verheugen will have as chairman of a group of commissioners to oversee competitiveness and as deputy head of another group charged with ensuring the implementation of the "Lisbon Strategy" for economic reform.
"We must reinvigorate the Lisbon Strategy, which aims to make Europe the world`s most competitive economy (by 2010)," said Barroso, who will himself chair the Lisbon agenda group.
Among other key appointments, Barroso in a surprise move named Dutch former transport minister Neelie Kroes as successor to Competition Commissioner Mario Monti.
He said Kroes had extensive experience of government and an understanding of business to make her the right choice for the pivotal job of ensuring EU member states obey the rules of corporate fair play for their companies.
"I belive she has the qualities of independence that are necessary for being commissioner for competition," he said.
The biggest member states like Britain, France and Germany were keen to see their commissioners get prize jobs. But Barroso paid credit to EU nations for giving him a free hand in naming his team.
"There is not a strong commission with a weak president," he said, while noting the solid experience he can draw on from having a clutch of former prime ministers, foreign ministers and finance ministers on his team.
He denied that the close political ties enjoyed by many of the new commissioners to their capitals, as is the case with Mandelson and British Prime Minister Tony Blair, could undermine the commission.
"I believe it`s possible to love your country and at the same time to believe in Europe," he said.