EUROPEAN COMMISSION: BARROSO TO FINALISE HIS TEAM'S PRIORITIES IN JANUARY.

During a debate in the Commission on the strategic priorities for his five-year term of office, President Barroso stressed his key aims of growth and employment. According to informed sources, a number of Commissioners suggested additional priorities for the term. A spokeswoman said that Mr Barroso would "collect these ideas". In any case, she said, Mr Barroso would be having a dialogue with the other institutions, starting with the European Parliament which is holding a debate on the Commission's priorities on December 14 during its plenary session in Strasbourg. The new President would also have a discussion with the Council before finalising the Commission's priorities at its meeting on January 26. At the same time, the Commission will decide its work programme for 2005 and 2006.

On December 9, the EPP-ED group issued its priorities for the Barroso Commission which are set out in a motion for a Resolution tabled for the upcoming plenary session. These are:

- making Europe more competitive and prosperous through economic reform;

- offering greater security for the citizen by fighting terrorism and crime;

- building a stronger Europe in a safer world by using the EU's power to project stability, advancing democracy and human rights, and encouraging development;

- improving Europe's quality of life through...