The Barroso Commission is the European Commission that has been in office since 22 November 2004 and is due to serve until 2014. Its president is José Manuel Barroso, who presides over 26 other commissioners (one from each of the states composing the European Union, aside from Portugal, which is Barroso's state). On 16 September 2009 Barroso was re-elected by the European Parliament for a further five years and his Commission was approved to take office on 9 February 2010.
Barroso was at first seen as the lowest common denominator by outside commentators, but his proposed team of Commissioners earned him some respect before triggering a crisis when the European Parliament objected to some of his team, forcing a reshuffle. In 2007 the Commission gained two new members when Romania and Bulgaria joined the European Union.
Barroso's handling of his office has been markedly more Presidential than his predecessors. During his term the Commission has passed major legislation including the REACH and 'Bolkestein' Directives. Under Barroso, the civil service in the Commission has become more economically liberal.
Read more about Barroso Commission: History, Legislation and Actions, Composition, Civil Service, Politicisation
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