COMMISSIONER VITORINO TURNS DOWN PORTUGUESE JOB OFFER.

European Commissioner for Justice and Home Affairs Antonio Vitorino has turned down an offer to let himself be candidate for the position of Secretary-General of Portugal's Socialist Party. "I consider that I should fulfil my mandate as Commissioner until the end", he said on July 14, ending days of speculation about his intentions. The Commissioner added: "it was a very difficult and thought-out decision, due to reasons of personal coherence and respect towards others. There are things which I believe that I can do, and others for which I consider not to have the necessary aptitude or motivation. These reasons are so personal that I understand...