ROME, Oct 27 (AFP) - Outgoing European Commission President Romano Prodi said Wednesday he believed his designated successor Jose Manuel Barroso will have to replace several commissioners on his team before it will be accepted by the European Parliament.
"I think several commissioners will be changed, but I could be wrong," Prodi said in pre-recorded comments to a RAI television programme due to be broadcast late Wednesday.
Prodi will stay on in his post as caretaker until Barroso wins parliamentary approval for a revised commission team.
Barroso Wednesday backed down from a bid to persuade EU lawmakers to let his new team take office next week, after facing a veto on his entire team over anti-gay comments by Italy`s commissioner designate Rocco Buttiglione.
"Now the real negotiating has to begin, like those on a national level to form a government," he said, adding that he believed a new team could be ready by November 17.
Prodi told the programme he believed Barroso`s backdown revealed the new-found strength of the European Parliament.
"What struck me is that the parliamentarians did not obey their heads of government, despite the very strong pressure they faced.
"That`s the new thing, which leads me to believe that the EU parliament is much stronger now than it was a few years ago."
10/27/2004 17:49 GMT - AFP