New commissioners face hearings

Buttiglione caused outrage when he said homosexuality was a "sin"

Three members of a reshuffled European commission face nomination hearings this week at the European Parliament.

The vote was delayed last month after it became clear the initial team of incoming Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso would be rejected.

Franco Frattini replaces Italy's original nominee, Rocco Buttiglione, rejected by MEPs for his controversial comments on gays and single mothers.

Mr Frattini, Italy's foreign minister is due to assume the justice portfolio.

He is also nominated to as one of the commission's vice-presidents.

The other new face to come before MEPs for the first time is Andris Piebalgs from Latvia, who is nominated to take up the energy post.

A third candidate, Laszlo Kovacs from Hungary, has been assigned the taxation portfolio after MEPs who asked him questions on his proposed energy brief, accused him of being incompetent in that field.

The unprecedented rejection of the proposed line-up forced Mr Barroso to restart negotiations with European prime ministers to set up a new team.

But this time, it is expected that the commission will almost certainly be approved by parliament.

The Dutch Prime Minister and current EU chairman, Jan Peter Balkenende, praised the new line-up and voiced hope that Mr Barroso would soon be able to start working with his team.

Mr Barroso has said that the Dutch candidate, Neelie Kroes, will keep the competition portfolio.

The BBC's Chris Morris believes that after flexing their political muscles and vetoing the first proposed commission, MEPs will now give their approval to the new Commission - unless an unforeseen disaster takes place at one of the hearings.