European Union leaders will discuss possible changes to the new European Commission tomorrow following Mr José Manuel Barroso's withdrawal yesterday of his entire team from consideration by the European Parliament, writes Denis Staunton in Strasbourg.
Mr Barroso told MEPs he would rebuild the commission over the next few weeks rather than face defeat in the European Parliament.
"I have come to the conclusion that if a vote is taken today, the outcome will not be positive for EU institutions or for the European project. In these circumstances, I have decided not to submit the new European Commission for your approval today," he told MEPs in Strasbourg.
The current commission, led by Mr Romano Prodi, will remain in office until a new commission is approved by MEPs, probably in mid-December.
Mr Barroso said he would make no more changes to his commission than are necessary to win the support of MEPs and of national governments. "My intention is to change what is necessary and sufficient," he said.
The Government made clear yesterday that Mr Charlie McCreevy remains Ireland's nominee for the new commission. A reshuffle could see Mr McCreevy moved from his designated portfolio of the Internal Market, perhaps to Competition, where the designated commissioner, Ms Neelie Kroes, has also been a controversial choice.
Socialist and Liberal MEPs repeated yesterday that they would not support a new commission unless Mr Rocco Buttiglione is moved from the Justice and Home Affairs portfolio. Mr Buttiglione, whose statements on homosexuality, marriage and immigration outraged MEPs, is widely expected to leave the commission altogether.
Italy's foreign minister, Mr Franco Frattini, said yesterday that Mr Buttiglione remained Rome's nominee "at present".
Mr McCreevy will remain a TD until the new commission is approved, and will not receive an EU salary until he takes office. He was relaxed yesterday after Mr Barroso's decision to withdraw the commission, but acknowledged that a reshuffle could involve a number of changes of portfolio.
"It's uncharted waters. One thing we all agree on is it won't be the same European Commission."
Ireland's outgoing commissioner, Mr David Byrne, said he was willing to remain in Brussels until the new team takes office.
"Politics is full of twists and turns, and now instead of heading off to new challenges I'll continue to deal with Europe's health and consumer issues for a further period, perhaps until the end of the year, until the current impasse is resolved."
Many MEPs welcomed yesterday's move as an important step towards enhancing the role of the European Parliament within the EU institutions. The leader of the Socialist group, Mr Martin Schulz, congratulated Mr Barroso on recognising the need for a new commission line-up.
"This morning you recognised that no majority existed in favour of your proposal. You arrived at the right conclusion," he said.
Fine Gael MEP Mr Gay Mitchell, said that yesterday's events could prove a setback for integration and tolerance in Europe, and suggested that champions of civil rights for sexual minorities risked provoking a popular backlash by blocking Mr Buttiglione's appointment.
He said the crisis showed that there was a "hiatus" in the relationship between the commission and the parliament, but expressed confidence that it would be resolved.
"The sky won't fall in, and there will be a commission," he said.
Mr Barroso is expected to discuss possible changes in the commission with EU leaders tomorrow when they gather in Rome to sign the EU constitutional treaty, and again at a summit in Brussels next week. If his new team is announced in mid-November, fresh parliamentary hearings would be held later in the month, and the new commission would be put to a vote in Strasbourg in December.