EUROPEAN COMMISSION: PATTEN CONFIRMED AS UK CHOICE TO REPLACE BRITTAN.

The United Kingdom is entitled to two European Commissioners, and Vice-President Sir Leon, who is responsible for trade issues, long ago already announced plans to retire when he ends his mandate. There is no set procedure for appointing the Commissioners - it is the Prime Minister's choice - but they are traditionally chosen by the two main parties, Labour and the Conservatives. Neil Kinnock, was the Labour choice in 1994, and he was appointed in 1995 as Transport Commissioner.Last year, the Euro-sceptic Mr Hague nominated the virtually anonymous Sir Alastair Goodlad, the Conservatives' Chief Whip until they lost the General Election in May 1997. But former Conservative Party Chairman Mr Patten - who had expressed an interest - was always a higher profile, and it would have been hard for Mr Blair to ignore his case. It also comes at a time when the Amsterdam Treaty confers on the new Commission President the power to veto any appointments he finds unsuitable: President-designate Romano Prodi has already signalled he will block candidates who are not heavyweights. Tactically, the appointment will be a snub to the Conservative leadership: not only did Mr Blair ignore Mr Hague's wishes, he will embarrass the Conservatives with the choice of Mr Patten whose pro-European...