STRASBOURG (AFP) - Incoming European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso called for the EU to urgently get back to work, as EU lawmakers prepare to end three weeks of unprecedented limbo.
But while the EU executive is apparently set to take office next Monday, grumbling continued and some MEPs warned that Barroso had been put on notice by the EU assembly`s show of strength in forcing a reshuffle of his team.
Barroso, who was supposed to take up his new post on November 1, urged European Union (EU) lawmakers to give him their strong support in a vote Thursday on his hastily re-arranged EU team.
"It is urgent that we now get back to work," Barroso said, underlining the huge challenges facing his new Commission once it finally takes office, in theory next Monday.
Key party leaders in the EU assembly immediately confirmed they plan to approve the line-up, although some warned Barroso that he had been put on notice by the parliament`s display of force in the Brussels standoff.
Barroso was forced to withdraw his first-choice team at the last minute after EU lawmakers threatened to veto it notably over controversial Italian EU nominee Rocco Buttiglione.
The cigar-chomping conservative Catholic, who sparked uproar with his comment that homosexuality was a "sin", finally agreed to stand down and make way for a new Italian nominee for the sensitive EU justice brief.
After some arm-twisting Buttiglione was replaced by media-friendly Foreign Minister Franco Frattini, who carefully avoided controversy at confirmation hearings this week where he went out of his way to trumpet women`s rights.
In what was widely seen as political horse-trading, the conservative Buttiglione`s departure was balanced out by a shift of Hungary`s socialist nominee Laszlo Kovac, while Latvia also switched its candidate.
The EU parliament, long considered the poor relation in the EU family, has made no secret of its delight at having given EU member states a bloody nose as it flexed its growing political muscle.
But the EU`s Dutch presidency, representing the member states, claimed the expected resolution of the crisis Thursday would make the EU stronger.
"The European Parliament has the full and complete right to reject the Commission which has been proposed. That it did so is a sign of a growing political awareness," said Dutch Prime Jans Peter Balkenende.
Speaking after Barroso`s appeal to them Wednesday afternoon, the leaders of the three biggest groups in the EU assembly confirmed they plan to vote "yes" Thursday.
Graham Watson of the Liberal Democrats, whose third-biggest group played a kingmaker role in the end-of-October crisis, also confirmed that his MEPs will mostly back Barroso`s new team.
"We were forced to define the Commission by its weakest link. That link has now gone," he said.
Key parties meanwhile agreed a joint resolution seeking to force Barroso to take more notice if the parliament loses confidence of any member of his 24-team -- including considering sacking the offending commissioner.
Grumbling focuses notably on Dutch EU commissioner Neelie Kroes, who has been handed the powerful competition brief, but has faced allegations of conflicts of interest over her numerous business links.
Barroso, speaking at the end of Wednesday`s debate, again defended Kroes, citing from the assessment of the parliament committee which quizzed her that she had the "professional capacity to assume the high office" she was offered.
Socialist head Martin Schulz, whose group was the key force in triggering the stalemate last month, had a blunt warning for Barroso if he is tempted to try to defy the parliament again.
"Remember October 2004, because the whole thing could repeat itself," he said.
11/17/2004 - 19:03 GMT - AFP