BRUSSELS - Ratification of a new EU treaty would not be possible without maintaining the right of all member-states to nominate their own commissioner, the Dutch chairman of negotiators at the Inter-Governmental Conference said yesterday, Paddy Smyth reports.
The Dutch European Affairs Minister, Mr Michael Patijn, was reporting on the first discussions of the IGC on the future shape of the Commission.
His assessment, shared by the Irish representative, Mr Noel Dorr, will provide reassurance to Dublin for whom the issue is important. Mr Dorr said there was a clear sense from the meeting that the IGC would not go beyond reducing the right of larger member-states to their second commissioner.
Mr Patijn said there was considerable support for Commission proposals to streamline decision-making in the body by strengthening the hand of the president and giving vice presidents a new co-ordinating role over specific areas of policy.
Mr Dorr expressed Irish reservations about the suggestion that some commissioners would not have full portfolios.