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Barroso, President of the European Commission: review of a Liberal by Christopher Berardi

Once the new Parliament elected on 7 June, he will have to decide to elect a new President of the European Commission, the 5 year term of José Manuel Durao Barroso ending. Candidate to succeed himself, his record as head of the European executive and that of the outgoing right-wing majority, however, is criticized.


Barroso calls since November 2004 for "Europe of results". But what results do we speak, after five years as head of the European Commission with its most conservative EPP whose UMP party?



Liberal, President of Portugal supported the Bolkestein directive in touting the "principle of country of origin", when all the polls showed public opposition. But it was mainly illustrated since the beginning of the economic and financial crisis, its lack of vision for Europe, and a confusing non-interventionism. As everyone was calling for a plan, at least a debate on the future of the automobile in Europe, he rejected any support to the sector on the Member States. This is also one of the criticisms most emphasized by his opponents: his lack of ambition and proposals that has marginalized the European Commission instead of strengthening European coherence.

For Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, PES President, in an interview to Le Monde, 28 March: "Mr Barroso has been very passive in its handling of the worst economic crisis since the Second World War. He tries to pretend that the European recovery plan is close to 4% of GDP. This is simply not correct to take into account the social shock absorbers, which increase with rising unemployment. It has nothing to do with a deliberate policy of preserving jobs. Chairman of the Commission must also be able to deal with governments. For now, we have a president who represents the lowest common denominator and reduce the EU to an intergovernmental association.

A lack of authority pointing the finger upon election. Martin Schulz, chairman of European Parliament Socialist Group, said: "When he speaks to the Socialists, he is a socialist. When he speaks to liberals, he is liberal. It tells people what they want to hear. "Without giving direction to Europe. With him, therefore, the Europe of citizens or social Europe could not move forward.