On 16 September, José Manuel Barroso was reappointed by the European Parliament in its plenary session for a second five-year term as head of the European Commission. The European Parliament (EP) had finally decided to vote on his reappointment without the condition of a second vote at a later date under Lisbon Treaty provisions.
At the Parliament, Barroso was elected by 382 votes in favour, 219 against and 117 abstentions. He was mainly backed by the European People’s Party (EPP), the Liberals and Democrats (ALDE) - although some of its MEPs are fiercely opposed to him - and the Conservatives and Reformists group. Before the vote, he defended his programme again in front of MEPs, and also promised changes in the Commission structure with the appointment of commissioners for justice, fundamental rights and civil liberties, internal affairs and migration, climate action, as well as "a scientific adviser for research and innovation". This move clearly reduces the change of maintaining a Commissioner for Multilingualism within the next Commission.
As for the structure of his second Commission, the president should, in theory, begin talks with the capitals to set up his new team, since the current Commission’s term of office ends on 31 October. Logically, the President and the new Commission should be appointed under the same treaty, in this case Nice as Ireland is voting on Lisbon early in October. However, Barroso may first want to clarify which treaty will apply before setting up his new team. Member States may also want to avoid an appointment of the Commission under Nice as this treaty reduces the size of the executive, whereas Lisbon maintains a status quo.