DEBATE ON THE PRODI'S COMMISSION

22/07/1999 (Agence Europe)

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Former Commissioner Emma Bonino rcalled that the Brok Report adopted by the EP this year asked for the European Commission to be largely composed of MEPs and persons with a vast experience of the European institutions, and for it to be politically balanced in the number of men and women members also. She commented with obvious bitterness that she will leave it up to the others to judge to what extent Mr Prodi wished, or "was able", to apply this advice. And "regarding the revolution you speak of, then my wishes go with you", she told Romano Prodi, considering it will not be possible to rouse public interest in Europe by changing the number of directorate-generals at the Commission or by ceasing to call them by a number or by "sprinkling Commissioners all over Brussels". "We are in a post Berlin Wall, post-Kohl, post-Mitterrand, post start-up of single currency period, but also in a pre-nothing period", exlaimed Mrs Bonino who went on to add: "in our view, it is the federalist, Spinellian compass that will al

low us to see whether we are moving towards more Europe". She went on to say that perhaps a little more "respect and generosity" would have been needed for the work done by others before us.

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