Brussels - Jose Manuel Barroso vowed Friday to lead a "strong" and "independent" European Commission, placing officials from Spain, Finland, France and Belgium in charge of the most influential economic portfolios within his new executive. "I have put together a strong commission to fill the enhanced role of Europe on the world stage provided by the Lisbon Treaty," the European Commission president said as he unveiled his new team.
"This will be an independent commission that undertakes all its responsibilities to the full," the Portuguese said.
Providing sustainable growth and prosperity for all EU citizens would be the main priority of his second, five-year term in office, Barroso said.
The commission runs the EU on a day-to-day basis, proposing legislation, implementing decisions and defending its common rules.
The new executive will now have to be endorsed by the European Parliament before it can formally assume office. Parliamentary hearings are due to start in January.
Friday's appointments followed a relatively brief period of secretive consultations in Brussels and not-so-secret horse-trading in national capitals. Under EU rules, the 27 member states are entitled to one commissioner each.
Barroso admitted to being inundated by "requests" from governments, but insisted that his team would "lead" rather than "be led."
While commissioners are not supposed to defend their countries' national interests once they assume office in Brussels, governments are eager to influence EU policy by securing the best posts.
Olli Rehn of Finland, an economist and outgoing enlargement commissioner, was awarded the powerful economic and monetary affairs portfolio. The post's incumbent, Joaquin Almunia of Spain, was moved to the influential competition portfolio, a post previously held by Neelie Kroes of the Netherlands.
Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen said Rehn had been given "a first-class assignment" while Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said Almunia had been given a portfolio of "maximum importance in the institutional tasks of the EU."
EU heavyweights Germany and France also emerged as victors after being awarded the energy and internal market portfolios respectively, while Italy's Antonio Tajani moves from transport to industry.
A government spokesman in Berlin said German Chancellor Angela Merkel was "very happy about the decision" to appoint Oettinger to the "key portfolio".
As the official tasked with defending the EU's internal market, former French foreign minister Michel Barnier will also oversee the upcoming reform of the bloc's financial supervision system.
His appointment could set alarm bells ringing in Britain, which is eager to defend the City of London from French-style "dirigisme".
Good relations between Berlin and Moscow were thought to have played a key role in Barroso's decision to appoint Guenther Oettinger, the outgoing prime minister of Germany's Baden- Wuerttemberg state, to the energy portfolio.
The EU imports most of its gas from Russia and suffered severe shortages last winter following a spat between Russia and neighbouring Ukraine, through which EU-bound pipelines pass.
Belgium's Karel De Gucht, a liberal who currently serves as aid commissioner, will now be in charge of trade.
Britain was the only country to know in advance which post it would be holding following the appointment by EU leaders of Catherine Ashton as foreign policy chief, a new position created by the Lisbon Treaty. Ashton will also act as one of Barroso's seven deputies.
Along with the team leader, there are 13 new faces. The others were already members of the outgoing college. Nine of the new commissioners are women.
"This is a perfect blend of experience and new thinking," Barroso said.
As expected, Danish Climate and Energy Minister Connie Hedegaard, who will host next month's UN talks on climate change in Copenhagen, was given the climate action post, a new position created by Barroso, while the coveted enlargement portfolio went to Stefan Fuele of the Czech Republic.
Most of the Balkan nations, as well as Iceland and Turkey, are eager to join the exclusive club of EU nations.
The biggest question mark hovered over Romania's commissioner, Dacian Ciolos, who was given the coveted agriculture portfolio despite his country running into trouble with the outgoing commission over its management of EU funds.
The composition of the incoming commission reflects the political balance of power in Europe, with 12 conservatives, eight liberals, three unaffiliated and only four left-wingers.
"I am confident that the commissioners, who will be presented to the European Parliament, can be decisive in steering Europe towards sustainable recovery and a smarter, greener social market economy that works for people," Barroso said.
