Kroes tipped for Brussels telecom portfolio

Wednesday 25 November 2009

Current EU competition commissioner Neelie Kroes will get the telecommunications and IT portfolio in the new commission line-up which is currently being finalised, Dutch newspapers report on Wednesday.

On Tuesday prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende announced that Kroes, a member of the Liberal VVD, would be the Netherlands' commission candidate. According to some sources, he had been keen to bring in a fellow Christian Democrat.

'She is going to do a job that is all about the future of Europe. She will be involved with e-commerce, digitalisation, mobile phones and broadband internet,' Balkenende told Nos news.

Commission chairman José Manuel Barroso is currently completing the make-up of the 27-strong commission. Kroes has held the competition post since 2004,

There has been mounting speculation about Kroes' future in Brussels since she said last week she would be prepared to take another economy-related job. Kroes, 68, has lobbied hard to remain in Brussels and 'finish the job'.

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© DutchNews.nl

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