Socialists wary of neo-liberal Commission

As the European Commission begins to discuss its programme for the next five years, Socialists in the European Parliament are looking on with some concern.

With a strongly liberal team in place, headed by centre-right politician, Socialists fear that social, environmental and employment policies are going to take a back seat.

A motion by Socialist MEPs in the European Parliament on Thursday called on Commission President Jose Manuel Durao Barroso to "promote the European economic and social model".

The motion, which is to be debated in the European Parliament next week, also emphasizes the importance of public services, social integration and better working conditions.

Meanwhile, Social Democrat prime ministers and leading politicians will next week be presented with a report setting out a centre-left policy agenda for the European Union.

During a discussion two weeks ago in Madrid on the report, leader of the European Socialists Poul Nyrup Rasmussen said "Mr Barroso needs our backing if he is to restore any authority to his leadership".

The 25-strong Commission contains just six social democrats.

The top jobs - competition and internal market - are in the hands of committed neo-liberals while other areas such as the environment are in the hands of the centre-right.

Although a clash has not happened, Socialists are keeping a close eye on things.

They are also well aware of their power in the Brussels assembly after having remained tight-knit in their opposition to the original Barroso line-up.

This eventually forced Mr Barroso to postpone putting his team to a parliament vote for three weeks while he re-shuffled the team.

"Nothing very much can happen without the Socialist group and we hope that lesson is borne out", said a Socialist insider.

If they do not get their way with their agenda, Socialists say they will make life tough for Commissioners when they come to Committee meetings in the parliament.

A 'nuclear' option would be "expressing a lack of confidence" in a Commissioner if they "persistently came forward with a neo-liberal agenda with no balance", continued the parliament official.

The Commission is set to agree its programme next month.