Yesterday the new European Commission was confirmed by the European Parliament. Mr
Barroso and his 26-member cabinet received 488 yes votes, 137 against and 72 abstentions.
Reacting to the news,
Aloys Rigaut, President of the European Liberal Youth LYMEC stated: “We are happy that now finally the time of standstill is over - the Treaty of Lisbon is in force and the European Commission is complete. We liberals now expect from the College of Commissioners to immediately start tackling the Union’s challenges. It has been several months of institutional wrangle and it is now high time to get back to work: too many dossiers are on hold, citizens expect actions after last year's EP elections.”
LYMEC Vice President Alexander Plahr adds: 'The composition of the Commission is a good one for liberals! With eight Commissioners we have nearly a third of the Commission coming from our camp – as many as never before. In the future liberals will determine the course of the Union in such important areas as economy, currency, research and home affairs.
Furthermore, MEPs voted on the so-called interinstitutional agreement, which for the first time opens the door for a true right of initiative of Parliament, something liberals and have been demanding for decades. This means more democracy for all of us!'
