‘Hard work prolongs life’, says second-term hopeful Bolkestein

By Peter Chapman

Date: 04/03/04

FRITS Bolkestein, the septuagenarian internal market commissioner, says his age should be no bar to him filling the shoes of Competition Commissioner Mario Monti, economics chief Pedro Solbes or trade boss Pascal Lamy in the new Commission team taking office on 1 November.

Speaking exclusively to European Voice, the Dutchman, who will be 71 in April, rebuffed critics who claim he should make way for young blood, after a long career in politics and business with oil giant Shell.

Instead, the Dutch Liberal confirmed his desire to be given another high profile job in the Commission.

"I would like one of the business dossiers," he told this paper, referring to the briefs currently held by Monti, Solbes and Lamy.

Hesitating, he also confirmed that he would be interested in grabbing the enterprise and information society portfolio currently held by Finn Erkki Liikanen, seen by many as a less prestigious job.

Bolkestein nodded that he would also be interested in taking on the daunting job of commissioner in charge of the so-called Lisbon Process of economic reforms, if the new Commission president decides to set-up the post, mooted last month by France, Germany and the UK.

Despite his performance in charge of the Commission's internal market, tax and customs polices, Bolkestein's age has been a recurring issue in the latter years of his Brussels stint.

But asked whether he would prefer to spend his evenings curled up in bed with a good book instead of a complex policy brief, Bolkestein said there was no contest.

Moreover, he pointed to an added bonus of the demanding schedule of a commissioner, insisting that "hard work prolongs life".

Bolkestein said the Dutch government was ready to rubber-stamp his candidature for another term in Brussels.

"It is easier for them because I would not have to learn everything from scratch," he said.

One onlooker at a London speech to senior accountants claimed the commissioner's performance was a "little flat" compared to recent efforts.

But British MEP Diana Wallis, a Bolkestein fan, said her fellow Liberal was "still clearly capable of a second term".

Report of interview with European Commissioner Frits Bolkestein.