Growing speculation

Date: 20/03/1997

Multifaceted Commissioner Emma Bonino's fame continues to grow. As she tries to recruit new staff for her greatly expanded Directorate-General for consumer affairs (DGXXIV), Bonino also looks set to get her own building.

The Casa Bonino, as it is already becoming known, will house the Commissioner's ECHO and DGXXIV staff. The new building, which will soon be completed, is within walking distance of the Commissioner's own Breydel offices, located in the street behind the institution's headquarters.

But will Bonino give up some of her existing responsibilities as part of the shake-up?

Rumours suggest she may lose fish - and would not be all that sorry to do so. Some have linked Ritt Bjerregaard's name with the post, although a Dane as Fisheries Commissioner might raise a few eyebrows.