Buttiglione aroused deep hostility among EU deputies

Incoming European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso withdrew his proposed 24-member executive team from consideration by the European Parliament on Wednesday, realising he faced an unprecedented rejection. Mr Barroso’s team faced almost certain defeat because of opposition to Italy’s Rocco Buttiglione, the proposed justice commissioner, who called homosexuality a sin and has been criticised for his conservative views on women and marriage.

"The outcome would not be positive," Mr Barroso said of the aborted vote by the 732-member legislature. "In these circumstances, I have decided not to submit a new commission for approval today." It was unclear whether he planned to make any changes in the proposed team, or when the vote might be rescheduled, but he told the chamber he hoped "we can arrive at an outcome in the next few weeks.", reports the Economic Times.

According to the Turkish Press, "I think several commissioners will be changed, but I could be wrong," Prodi said in pre-recorded comments to a RAI television programme due to be broadcast late Wednesday.

Prodi will stay on in his post as caretaker until Barroso wins parliamentary approval for a revised commission team.

Barroso Wednesday backed down from a bid to persuade &to=http:// english.pravda.ru/science/19/94/379/11016_kyoto.html ' target=_blank>EU lawmakers to let his new team take office next week, after facing a veto on his entire team over anti-gay comments by Italy's commissioner designate Rocco Buttiglione.