AND THE WINNERS ARE...

Somewhat unexpectedly, it has been the European Commission's new members who have won plaudits from both officials inside and observers outside the institution.

By general agreement, the surprise star has been the junior Italian Commissioner, Emma Bonino.

Preceded by a colourful reputation as a radical activist, she had the political good fortune to arrive in the middle of a war -albeit a diplomatic one over an obscure species of fish.

She acquitted herself well and with humour, and has since devoted much of her bubbling energy to ensuring a high political profile for the EU's extensive humanitarian aid programme.

Another success has been the less extrovert Austrian FranzFischler, who has had the unenviable task of trying to square the demands of EU farmers with the new environment they will face once new countries join the Union.

"Fischler has been an important player. He has had a good first year. He has positioned himself and the Commission quite reasonably on enlargement - and in the middle ground, with which we feel comfortable," said one senior official.

Another to have emerged with good marks is Finland's Erkki Liikanen. His portfolio of budgetary and personnel issues is normally a Commissioner's graveyard. But the new status given to these previously mundane topics ensures he is at the heart of most policy debates.

Liikanen has also won the accolade of being the most sporting member of the college by running four marathons during the year.

One whose star began to shine towards the end of the first 12 months was French Economics Commissioner Yves-Thibault de Silguy, who hit the headlines as the spotlight fell on the single currency. Whether he prospers or not will depend in large measure on the fortunes of the Euro itself.

'Olaf-timer' Sir Leon Brittan turned his skills to bolstering relations with the United States and Asia, although his successes did not attract the media attention they once did.

Meanwhile, Brittan's foreign policy colleagues Manuel Marin and Joo de Deus Pinheiro achieved their goals of stepping up contacts with the Mediterranean and South Africa respectively.

There was no doubt in 1995 who was the most independent-minded member of the Commission.

Without any question, that title goes to Danish Commission" Ritt Bjerregaard.

Overall, most believe the new Commission has done a good job. "If you compare the Commission's performance as a whole against what it should be doing, then I would give it eight out of ten," said one observer.