European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso was forced to withdraw his original line-up of Commission members after objections from MEPs

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso was forced to withdraw his original line-up of Commission members after objections from MEPs. Mr Barroso formally presented his revised team on Wednesday, ahead of a vote by MEPs on Thursday. MEPs are also expected to vote for new powers to sack Commissioners. Mr Barroso, who dropped two of his original choices under parliamentary pressure, said his team was "ready and anxious to build a better Europe". MEPs are expected to endorse the new line-up on Thursday, ending a bruising row in which Mr Barroso had to withdraw his entire line-up after MEPs objected to his choice of Italian conservative Rocco Buttiglione as Justice Commissioner. He eventually dropped Mr Buttiglione, whose statements on homosexuality and women's rights had run into widespread opposition from MEPs. But MEPs want more power to force the dismissal of Commissioners who lose the confidence of the European Parliament.