EU:The European Commission denied yesterday that its president was bending to pressure from big EU states over reforms after a newspaper said some of his commissioners had criticised him for caving in.
"Rules are rules . . . We don't favour one member state over another," commission spokesman Michael Mann told a news briefing when asked about the report in the Financial Times.
"There have never been any secret deals cut."
The newspaper said that internal market chief Charlie McCreevy, an economically liberal member of the commission, urged José Manuel Barroso last week against making deals with countries such as France and Germany over reforms to open their economies.
Trade commissioner Peter Mandelson and Neelie Kroes, the EU's competition commissioner, were also critical of Mr Barroso, the Financial Times said.
It said some EU officials believed Mr Barroso was trying to get support from France and Germany - two economic heavyweights in the EU - for a possible second term in charge of the commission when his first term ends in 2009.
The idea of a second term is "not something on the president's mind", Mr Mann said.
Mr Barroso was criticised by France early in his term for being too much of an economic liberal.