Prodi's new elite to lead EU reforms

ROMANO PRODI, the incoming European Commission president, promised a wholesale shake-up of the Brussels bureaucracy yesterday and paved the way for the creation of a new, powerful breed of "super commissioner".

The former Italian premier called for a far-reaching set of changes including a more central role for the Commission's vice-presidents, and the formation of new departments combining existing portfolios.

Although his speech, made to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, was short on detail, Mr Prodi made clear that he intends to exercise a political grip on the Commission in a way never attempted by his predecessor, Jacques Santer.

Under the Amsterdam Treaty, which has just come into force, Mr Prodi has greater powers than previous presidents, including freedom toshuffle his team of commissioners during its term. He also gains fuller control over the agenda discussed at the weekly commission meetings.

Yesterday's speech in Strasbourg supported the idea of establishing at least two "super commissioner" jobs, one dealing with foreign affairs, the other with economic issues. The foreign affairs job - which is being eyed by Neil Kinnock, the transport commissioner - would combine the existing portfolios, which are defined by geographical area.

The composition of the new Commission is the subject of intense debate. Mr Prodi, whose nomination is expected to be approved by MEPs today, has already made clear he will not accept nominations of "time-servers" or candidates judged to be second-rate, and some countries have drawn up a shortlist of nominees in case he vetoes their first choice.

Under the new treaty, the president can block nominees, although his leeway to do so with the bigger EU countries is a more delicate issue. Disagreements are likely to be settled by private negotiation.

The process is of acute interest to the UK because of the speculation that one of its two commissioner posts could go to Chris Patten, the former governor of Hong Kong, in place of the Tory party's official candidate, Alastair Goodlad. One possibility is that Mr Prodi might make clear in private to Tony Blair that a higher profile nominee, such as Mr Patten, would get a bigger job in Brussels.

The hand of the Commission's president-designate was strengthened yesterday when Germany's Minister for Europe, Gunther Verheugen, told the parliament that governments "want to see a reforming Commission" made up of "convinced and convincing Europeans" showing "competence, leadership and personal integrity". He added that the EU should examine the possibility of allowing the dismissal of poorly performing individual commissioners.

Other reforms include a push to change the cabinets, or private offices of commissioners, which are usually staffed by their own nationals. These, Mr Prodi said, should be "supra national", and dedicated to the support of the president and the Commission, rather than the promotion of their immediate political master.

In a wide-ranging speech, Mr Prodi was downbeat about Europe's economic prospects, arguing that the Continent was going through a slowdown in growth and will feel the effects of the Balkan conflict.

He added that the EU's leaders would have to combat the "disenchantment" of Europe's citizens in the euro.

But he called for European integration to be extended into new areas, arguing that "if Europe has been able to give up national sovereignty in relation to the single currency and external border, it must... develop a common sword to maintain its security and common scales of justice".

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