Busquin says ‘non’ to elite commissioners

Date: 18/07/02

By Peter Chapman

BELGIAN Commissioner Philippe Busquin has warned against moves to create a two-tier executive with an elite band of 'super commissioners' in charge of the rest.

His comments follow efforts by President Romano Prodi to shake up his chain of command before enlargement brings in up to ten new commissioners. Prodi favours an inner cabinet of elite commissioners setting policy in key areas such as trade or foreign policy, with a subsidiary team reporting to them.

But Busquin told European Voice the Italian should not tamper with the collegial system which gives each commissioner an equal say.

'My idea is not a pyramid system with a president, seven super commissioners and 20 less super. No,' insisted Busquin. 'You should not have first-class and second-class commissioners. They must have the same legal power.'

Busquin says each commissioner must have a specific dossier, although they could coordinate more than they do currently where portfolios overlap.

The commissioner - whose research dossier is seen as one of the least prestigious in the College - said his vision would not stop some jobs carrying more gravitas than others, even if the commissioners were of the same formal rank.

Referring to his responsibility for the EU's new satellite-based Global Monitoring of Environment and Security (GMES) system, he said: 'It is clear that GMES is not as important as liberalisation of electricity markets.'

Prodi wants his cabinet-style system up-and-running from 2004. But Busquin said he believed it would only come into effect after the current Commission steps down in 2005.

Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin has warned against moves by Commission President Romano Prodi to create a two-tier executive with an inner cabinet of 'elite' Commissioners.