ROME, Oct 27 (AFP) - The Italian government Wednesday commended incoming EU Commission president Manuel Jose Barroso for a "wise decision" to back down in a standoff with the European parliament over his choice of commissioners.
Foreign Minister Franco Frattini described Barroso's move as "a wise decision, aimed at avoiding a discussion which risked developing into a conflict".
Frattini made clear, however, Rome's view that criticisms of Barroso's team were only partly based on the controversy surrounding Italy's candidate Rocco Buttiglione, who had angered liberals with his conservative views on homosexuality and the role of women.
"The democratically-expressed observations and criticism against more than one commissioner designate," were legitimate, he said.
"Italy has full faith, and confirms this full confidence in the president-designate Barroso," Frattini added.
10/27/2004 13:33 GMT - AFP