Press Release: Institutional continuity of Commission assured

After President-designate of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, had been forced to withdraw his proposed team for the EU's executive in order to avoid rejection by the European Parliament, the Dutch Presidency of the EU contacted the President of the Commission Romano Prodi and asked him officially to remain in office until the new Commission was voted in by the European Parliament. President Prodi agreed to continue in office for the time being in order to ensure institutional continuity.