After having announced the attributes and the names of the new European Commissioners on 12 August 2004, José Manuel Barroso met his team on the 20 August 2004 in Brussels for the first time. The new commissioners will then be submitted to hearings on September 27, by the European Parliament, who shall vote at the end October on the new Commission, before it officially takes over on November 1st 2004. The "European popular group" showed its satisfaction the day after the announcement of the nominations.
European Commission
Britain's 'prince of darkness' Mandelson rises again
One of the UK''s most controversial political figures Peter "Prince of Darkness" Mandelson is to be the European Union''s commissioner for trade!