Romania Nominates Dacian Ciolos For European Commissioner

"The Government nominated Dacian Ciolos for European commissioner. The proposition will be presented to the president and to the European Commission. We made this decision after the Lisbon Treaty was voted by Ireland, ratified by Poland and is pending ratification by the Czech Republic," Boc said.

Dacian Ciolos was minister of agriculture between October 2007 and December 2008 in the liberal government led by Calin Tariceanu.

According to the European procedures, EU member states' Governments propose candidates for European commissioner and their portfolio is decided by the European Commission.

Romanian social democrat MEP Victor Bostinaru told MEDIAFAX Friday that European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso officially asked Romanian President Traian Basescu to propose another three people for an EC portfolio.

Bostinaru said Romania was not explicitly told it will not receive the agriculture portfolio, but that Barroso's request implies it. Bostinaru added the European Commission was disappointed with the way Basescu conducted portfolio negotiations.

"There is little chance Romania will receive the agriculture portfolio, but negotiations are not over," people close to the matter told MEDIAFAX.

The sources also said Barroso also addressed a request for other three nominations to Romanian Foreign Affairs Minister Cristian Diaconescu during the General Assembly of the UN in New York and to Basescu during a summit in Brussels preparing the G20 reunion in Pittsburg.

The sources added the propositions had not been sent to the European Commission.

The source said the European Commission hesitates to give Romania the Agriculture portfolio as the country did not manage effectively agriculture funds and the portfolio might be granted to Ireland for adopting the Lisbon Treaty.

Apart from the agriculture portfolio, Romania opted for the regional development and transport portfolios.

The sources said Romania may also opt for the enlargement portfolio which entails dealing with delicate matters, adding the country has to negotiate carefully to obtain it.

Basescu said recently Romania will try to obtain the agriculture portfolio in the European Commission, adding other options can be presented.

Democrat liberal Theodor Stolojan told MEDIAFAX late September Romania sticks to its option for the agriculture portfolio, but talks are held for another option, namely the enlargement portfolio.

Leaders of the ruling coalition approved back then Dacian Ciolos as candidate for the agriculture portfolio, but the decision was not made official by the Government, whose structure changed meanwhile as the social democrats left the government coalition.

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