Two months prior to the appointment by the Council, meeting at Heads of State or Government level, of José Manuel Durão Barroso as President of the European Commission on 29 June 2004, the French daily newspaper Le Monde reflects on the laborious attempts to reach agreement on a suitable successor to Romano Prodi at a time when potential candidates abound.

Decision of the Council, meeting in the composition of Heads of State or Government of 29 June 2004 nominating the person it intends to appoint as President of the Commission.

On 29 June 2004, José Manuel Durão Barroso, Prime Minister of Portugal, informs the Portuguese nation of his intention to accept the invitation to become the next President of the European Commission which will be extended to him that evening by the Heads of State or Government meeting in Brussels at the Council of the European Union.

José Manuel Barroso, Portuguese Prime Minister and President-designate of the European Commission, meets Romano Prodi at the meeting of the Heads of State or Government held in Brussels on 29 June 2004.

In his address to the plenary sitting of the European Parliament held on 21 July 2004 in Strasbourg, José Manuel Barroso asks the European Parliament to approve his appointment as President of the European Commission.

On 22 July 2004, the European Parliament, at a part-session in Strasbourg, elects José Manuel Barroso as President of the European Commission.

On 12 August 2004, José Manuel Barroso, President-designate of the European Commission announces to the press the policy portfolios he has allocated to each member of his team and the main changes that have been introduced to the new Commission.

On 13 September 2004, the Council adopts by common accord with the President-designate of the Commission, José Manuel Barroso, the list of the other eminent persons whom the Council intends to appoint as Members of the Commission.

On 27 September 2004, before the European Parliament’s vote of approval on the Barroso Commission, due to take place in late October, the Luxembourg daily newspaper La Voix du Luxembourg reviews the chances of success of the various Commissioners during their forthcoming hearings before the Members of the European Parliament.

In his address to the plenary sitting of the European Parliament held on 26 October 2004 in Strasbourg, José Manuel Barroso calls on the European Parliament to approve the new European Commission.

On 30 October 2004, in an interview for the Luxembourg daily newspaper Le Quotidien, Viviane Reding, Luxembourg Commissioner, gives her opinion on the European Parliament’s refusal to approve the Barroso Commission after the comments made by the Italian Commissioner, Rocco Buttiglione, before the Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs.

On 4 November 2004, President-designate José Manuel Barroso submits a new proposal for the composition of the future Commission.

On 5 November 2004, the Council adopts by common accord with the President-designate of the Commission, José Manuel Barroso, the ‘revised’ list of the other eminent persons whom the Council intends to appoint as Members of the Commission.

In his editorial of 9 November 2004, Ferdinando Riccardi, Chief Editor of the Bulletin Quotidien Europe, is optimistic about the chances of the second proposed Barroso Commission receiving the approval of the European Parliament. He also reviews the cases of Commissioners Neelie Kroes and Franco Frattini.

Following the postponement of the vote of approval, José Manuel Barroso asks the European Parliament, during the plenary sitting of 17 November 2004, to give its full support to the new European Commission.

European Parliament resolution of 18 November 2004 on the election of the new Commission headed by José Manuel Barroso.

European Parliament Decision of 18 November 2004 electing the nominated Commission.

View of the European Parliament, meeting in plenary sitting, during the vote on the approval of the European Commission presided by José Manuel Barroso on 18 November 2004.

Electronic display board showing how the European Parliament, meeting in plenary sitting, voted on the approval of the Barrasso Commission on 18 November 2004. Result of the vote: 449 to 149, with 82 abstentions.

On 19 November 2004, the Council appoints the President and Members of the Commission for the period from 22 November 2004 to 31 October 2009.

Statement by José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, at his swearing-in ceremony before the Court of Justice on 21 January 2005.

In this interview excerpt, Wilfried Martens, Belgian Prime Minister from 1979 to March 1981 and December 1981 to 1992 and President of the European People’s Party (EPP) since 1990, discusses the circumstances surrounding the appointment of José Manuel Durão Barroso as President of the European Commission in 2004.

On 17 September 2009, the European Parliament approves the appointment of José Manuel Barroso for a second five-year term as President of the Commission.