New MEPs settle down to business while the Commission prepares for change.

IT HAS BEEN a summer of change in the European institutions. Since the June European elections the record number of new MEPs have been trying to come to grips with the functioning of the Parliament and the EU more generally. One such new MEP is European Parliament President Josep Borrell, a

During the same July session as Borrell's election, MEPs were also asked to vote on whether to support the European Council's nominee for Commission President, the then Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Manuel Barroso. Despite concerns leading up to the vote, and unease over the manner in which the Council nominated him, MEPs voted in favour of Barroso. He will therefore take up the helm as Commission President on 1 November. Since being confirmed in this role Barroso has been busy assembling his team. In August Member States revealed their Commissioners for the five year term commencing in November--with the UK controversially, but not unexpectedly, nominating Peter Mandleson. After only a short time for consideration Barroso made public the portfolios to be allocated to the new Commissioners. Stavros Dimas, the current Economic and Social Commissioner, is to become the new Environment Commissioner, with Margot Wallstrom becoming vice president and effectively deputy to Barroso. One of the major proposals on Dimas' inherited agenda will be the REACH proposal on chemicals. He is expected to work closely with Gunter Verheugen, who will take up the newly created role of enterprise and industry Commissioner, to push the complex dossier through the Parliament and Council.

From an environmental perspective, responses to the new Commission have been mixed. Concerns have been raised that other issues may be sidelined by a wish to promote competitiveness, especially given Barroso's actions as Portuguese Prime Minister and the fact that he has highlighted the Lisbon goals of a competitive and knowledge-based economy as one of his top priorities.