Parliament chief wants mid-September decision on Barroso
The president of the European Parliament, Jerzy Buzek, has encouraged his fellow MEPs to make a quick decision on the re-appointment of European Commission head Jose Manuel Barroso, warning that a delay threatens European stability.
"It would be much better for the stability of the EU and its institutions if a vote is held in September," the new president told reporters alongside his commission counterpart on Thursday (27 August) in Brussels.
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"The two institutions need to organise themselves ahead of the Irish vote and I hope and expect a vote on 16 September."
Mr Buzek, a member of Mr Barroso's centre-right political family, backs a second term for the ex-Portuguese prime minister, along with the rest of the European People's Party. But the liberals and socialists in the parliament have given the commission president a list of demands to which he must agree before they are willing to vote him in.
Mr Barroso is due to present a programme for his next five years to parliament next week, and will meet with the leaders of the different political groups on 8 and 9 September.
The Greens, steadfastly opposed to his re-appointment, do not want any decision made before the second Irish referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, on 2 October.
The political groups in the parliament are scheduled to take a decision on the timing of the vote on 10 September.
Mr Buzek hopes that he can convince them that a rapid vote is in Europe's best interests.
"It would be much better for the European Union to have the European Commission, the European Parliament and the EU presidency very well organised," he said.
