Barroso's Commission Faces New Confidence Vote

Barroso was speaking after the European Union parliament, which threatened the EU with crisis last month by blocking Barroso's first-choice line-up for the new European Commission, set a new date of November 18 for a confidence vote.

"I am very satisfied by the general reaction... I hope to have a strong vote, clear majority vote for the commission in the interests of the Union," Barroso said after talks with party leaders in the EU legislative assembly.

Barroso was forced to withdraw his first-choice team on October 27 after EU lawmakers in Strasbourg threatened to veto it notably over the inclusion of controversial Italian nominee Rocco Buttiglione.

Buttiglione, who was nominated for the sensitive justice portfolio, had infuriated MEPs by describing homosexuality as a "sin" and saying that women should stay at home to have babies.

Barroso, Portugal's former prime minister, should have taken up his Brussels job on November 1. Outgoing commission chief Romano Prodi is staying on as a caretaker in the meantime.

Party leaders agree on date

The new vote date was set by party group leaders after talks with Barroso, who unveiled a reshuffled commission team at a two-day EU summit in Brussels.

Confirmation hearings for three newly-designated nominees will be held on November 15 and 16 at the parliament, which will be holding its next monthly plenary session in Strasbourg, sources said.

The head of the Socialist group in the EU assembly, which was the driving force behind last week's veto threat, said Friday he favored a swift resolution to the standoff. "We prefer a result as early as possible," said Martin Schulz, although adding that "if colleagues of other parties believe more time is needed, I'm not going to get into a fight."

New commission nominees confirmed

Barroso had pledged to make a "limited" reshuffle to win parliament's support, and his reformed line-up included two new members and one swap of portfolio. He confirmed that Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini was nominated to replace Buttiglione. Frattini will also serve as one of five vice presidents of the commission.

Barroso said that Latvia's new nominee Andris Piebalgs will replace Ingrida Udre, who also failed to win EU lawmakers' backing.

But Piebalgs will not take over the tax brief offered to Udre, instead swapping that position for the energy portfolio first given to Hungary's Laszlo Kovacs, who was deemed unimpressive on that brief.

Kroes retains Barroso support

Barroso stood by his controversial choice for competition commissioner, Dutch minister Neelie Kroes, who has faced charges of conflict of interest in the key brief overseeing corporate takeovers and state aid decisions.

Prodi, who has delayed his return to Italian politics to stay on in his Brussels office, welcomed the breakthrough on his successor's team. "My feelings are dominated by happiness at finally being able to retire after all these years of honorable service," he told reporters at the EU summit.