Kroes confirmed as Dutch European Commissioner candidate (Roundup)

Nov 24, 2009, 16:24 GMT

The Hague - The Dutch government has confirmed outgoing European commissioner Neelie Kroes as the country's candidate for the next European Union executive Tuesday.

The current competition commissioner would however not return to her present job but instead receive the portfolio for information and communications technology and telecommunications.

'It is a privilege to continue in Brussels,' Kroes said on Dutch television, 'I have a very positive feeling about this new challenge.'

Speaking of Kroes, Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende said, 'she will get a position that deals with the future of Europe, and with the new technological future. She is very motivated to start this job.'

The Dutch government had initially wary of presenting liberal VVD party member Kroes as its candidate, preferring someone from the largest coalition party, the Christian Democrats.

The government changed tactics as rumours increased in the runup to last Thursday's EU-summit that Balkenende would not receive sufficient European support for nomination as EU president.

It launched a lobby in Brussels to retain one of the more important portfolio's in the European Commission for the Netherlands. Kroes, being a woman among mostly male candidates and having a firm reputation in the field of economics, reappeared as the country's best possible candidate.

Pieter van Geel, Christian Democratic faction leader, said the cabinet's decision to present Kroes as its candidate for the job was a 'fine choice.'

Mariette Hamer, faction leader of the second largest coalition party Labour, also welcomed the 'good news.'

Mark Rutte, party leader of the VVD, said 'Kroes gave Europe a face for many Dutch nationals. She is the Netherlands' business card. I am very pleased someone from my party is to become EU- commissioner.'

Only the leftist Socialist Party (SP) criticized the government's decision.

The SP's European lawmaker Dennis de Jong said he feared the 27-member European Commission, consisting mostly of Liberals and Christian Democrats and only a few Socialists, would now become the the 'most rightwing EU commission ever.'

As competition commissioner, Kroes - labelled 'Steely Neelie' - earned a reputation as the most powerful woman in Brussels after launching anti-trust inquiries into major international corporations such as software giant Microsoft and computer chipmaker Intel.

The Dutch decision came on the same day that Italy, Denmark and Malta also announced their choices for the new team to be headed by current European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso.

He is expected to start work on assigning portfolios in the coming weeks. The 27-member commission will then have to be endorsed by the European Parliament, with hearings due to start in January.