Sarkozy’s idea for the Commission

As reported in the last Digest, the number of commissars in the European Commission after Lisbon has been ratified can be modified by a decision in the European Council. The plan was originally to reduce the number of commissars to two thirds of the number of member states. This would mean reducing the number from 27 as at present to 18. However, European leaders are considering whether to modify this in the light of the Irish rejection of Lisbon. President Sarkozy has suggested that countries “from similar language and cultural circles” share a commissar. So Austria and Germany could have the same commissar, and the UK and Ireland or the Benelux states. Of course if the Lisbon treaty is not ratified, all this will never come to pass. [Der Standard, 6 August 2008]

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