EUROPEAN COMMISSION/PARLIAMENT: MEPS BACKING AWAY FROM FIGHT OVER BARROT.

On November 22, Mr Barrot sent a letter to the President of the European Parliament, Josep Borrell, setting out his account of the eight month suspended sentence he received in 2000 for improper financial management of the Centre des democrates sociaux in the 1990s. He points out that he received a full amnesty for the sentence, which was subsequently removed from the public record. The Barrot letter stresses that there were never any doubts concerning his personal honesty: the court ruled that he had not personally benefited.

Mr Barrot justified his failure to volunteer the information - either in his hearings or to Mr Barroso - on the grounds that the matter did not exist in French law; there was therefore no reason for the French government to mention it when nominating him as Commissioner. There was no intention to hide the facts of the case, which, he said, were well-known and widely reported in the French press at the time.

Those holding elected office have to perform their duties in line with the legal system of the member state of which they are citizens, Mr Barrot argued. He pointed to the many statements of support by the political figures, as "abundant proof that there has never been any doubt as to my integrity throughout a long career in public office".

Commission defence.

President Barroso believed that the letter contained elements which would "reassure MEPs who had doubts", according to his spokeswoman on November 22. She stressed that the Barrot sentence had been "completely erased" by the court and defended the French legal system which was "perfectly legitimate". Such amnesties are granted only for matters of "minimal importance", she added, declining to respond to questions over how grave the Commission considered questions of fraudulent funding of political parties.

She also said that President Barroso found the letter "sufficiently clear on Mr Barrot's personal situation", and in response to questions as to whether the French Commissioner still enjoyed 100% confidence, she replied that Mr Barroso "believes he will be an excellent Commissioner". However, she added that the President would have "preferred" to be informed in advance.

The spokeswoman refused to speculate on possible European Parliament requests to dismiss Mr Barrot, but pointed out that Mr Barroso had received commitments from all the...