European Parliament approves the new European Commission

09-02-2010

The European Parliament has given its backing to the team of European commissioners put forward for 2010-14, under the second presidency of José Manuel Barroso.

MEPs meeting in Strasbourg voted 488 to 137 in favour of the new line-up,  with 72 abstentions.

Mr. Barroso's team had the support of the centre-right European People's Party, the Liberal ALDE group and most of the centre-left Socialist and Democratic group.

The vote clears the way for the new European Commission to be sworn into office at the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg tomorrow (10 February).