STRASBOURG (AFP) - European Union lawmakers approved the bloc's new executive commission, ending three weeks of institutional limbo sparked by protests over comments on gays and women by an Italian nominee.
The European Parliament voted by 449 votes in favour to 149 against, with 82 abstaining in the ballot, which was originally due at the end of October but was delayed by the row.
Incoming commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso, who was originally supposed to have taken office on November 1, is now expected to start work in Brussels on Monday, officials said.
11/18/2004 - 11:33 GMT - AFP