Barroso talks tough on strong commission

José Manuel Durão Barroso has pledged to lead a strong and independent European Commission if MEPs give him the nod of approval next week.

Emerging after eleven and half hours of hearings on Tuesday and Wednesday by six political groups in the parliament, a confident Mr Barroso said he would not succumb to pressure to allocate big portfolios to big countries.

"The nomination of the commissioner is a joint responsibility of the member states and the president designate but afterwa...