Slovenia's European Commissioner Janez Potocnik is pleased that all major factions in the European Parliament have confirmed the new European Commission. "We have a lot of work to do now," Potocnik, the commissioner for science and research, said on Thursday.
Potocnik told the press he has gotten to know his field of work quite well since August, when he was assigned to this department. He also acquired sufficient knowledge about one of the great new challenges, namely negotiations on the location of the international thermonuclear experimental reactor, the Iter.
Although controversy surrounding the appointment of Jose Manuel Barroso's team almost caused an institutional crisis in the EU, Potocnik sees it as an "interesting experience that we can all learn from".
"I see it as part of the democratic process in the EU, a step towards strengthening democracy in Europe. The Commission itself was in the middle in this process, between the parliament and member states, rather than an active player," he added.
Potocnik, 46, was the shadow commissioner for enlargement in the previous Commission of Romano Prodi from 1 May. He was previously Slovenia's chief negotiator with the EU and then Europe minister. Before going into politics, he had been director of the government Institute for Macroeconomic Analyses and Development (IMAD).
The new Commission was confirmed with an overwhelming majority today, with 449 votes in favour, 149 against and 82 abstaining. All Slovenian euro MPs voted for Barroso's line-up.
Alojz Peterle, a member of the European People's Party (EPP-ED), welcomed the appointment, saying that "we now have two strong institutions". He also congratulated Potocnik and wished he would "do his best in the next five years".
Borut Pahor of the Party of European Socialists (PES) also said that the parliament has elected a strong Commission. Indeed, Jelko Kacin, a member of the Liberals (ALDE), hopes that the parliament will be able to "cope with it", although Barroso "has a lot to learn".
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