European Union (EU) leaders are set to give their political blessing to Jose Manuel Barroso's bid for a new term as the European Commission chief at a two-day summit starting Thursday.

Standing as the only official candidate for the EU's top post, the former Portuguese prime minister is virtually assured to remain, but he may have to wait for a legally-binding decision on his re-appointment by EU leaders only after the European Parliament has its words.

Additional hurdles even lie ahead due to the EU's Lisbon Treaty drama.

Political backing

Barroso, 53, has served as the European Commission president since 2004. Before his term expires in October, he declared his candidacy for a second five-year term last Tuesday and has won vocal support from most EU governments.

Last week, France and Germany, the two EU powers, gave their full backing to the reappointment of Barroso, but demanded he first commit himself to a more ambitious program for his second term, including radical reform of the EU's financial system as a response to the financial crisis.

"We will support the candidacy of Mr. Barroso, without ambiguity," French President Nicolas Sarkozy said after meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the Elysee Palace.

Czech Prime Minister Jan Fischer, whose country holds the EU rotating presidency, said on Wednesday that he expected the forthcoming summit to provide support for Barroso, but the EU is deciding between a legal and a political solution.

Fisher acknowledged that he would like Barroso to be re-elected in mid-July, which means EU leaders will fall short of making a legally-binding decision on his reappointment this time, but put off the formal approval until further consultation with the European Parliament.

After re-election early this month, the new European Parliament, which has a joint say on the nomination of commission chief, will convene for its first meeting in mid-July.

Treaty drama

If the European Parliament votes next month, the existing EU Nice Treaty will apply, under which a single majority will be enough for Barroso's reappointment.

As a member of the center-right European People's Party grouping, which secured most seats in the 736-seat parliament at EU-wide elections this month, Barroso has guaranteed support from his party and is very likely to win a single majority.

But if the EU assembly delays the approval until the reformative Lisbon Treaty is finally ratified, support from an absolute majority of the whole parliament, rather than those present, will be required.

Since the Party of European Socialists (PES), the second largest group in the parliament, and the smaller Greens have voiced opposition to Barroso, it would be very difficult for Barroso to be reappointed.

The Lisbon Treaty, designed to reform EU institutions and policy making, would come into force if Irish voters can back it at a second referendum in September or October after they rejected it one year ago, plunging the EU into an institutional crisis.

EU leaders will this time work out a deal on legal guarantees to Ireland, relieving Irish voters from concerns that the Lisbon Treaty may breach their country's neutrality and force it to change its tax and family laws.

Although EU member states prefer the parliament to decide in July, analysts said Barroso could still face another vote by EU lawmakers when the commission has to be reorganized under the Lisbon Treaty.

(Xinhua News Agency June 18, 2009)