Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins expresses gratification about new European Commission being approved at European Parliament

Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins expresses gratification about the European Parliament's vote in favour of the European Commission's new composition, and wishes success to President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, to Vice President and the EU High Representative Catherine Ashton, as well as to the new commissioners on assuming their responsible positions.

"This is a time of challenge, also for the new College of Commissioners. I believe that the European Commission under the leadership of its President Jose Manuel Barroso will take forward the initiatives and measures launched to overcome the consequences of the global economic and financial crisis and to enhance the international role and competitiveness of the European Union," Minister Riekstins indicates.

On 9 February in Strasbourg, the European Parliament at its plenary session approved the new composition of the European Commission for 2009-2014. The 697 MPs present elected the new College by 488 votes to 137, with 72 abstentions.

The European Commission will stay in office from 10 February 2010 until 31 October 2014. In the new College, the commissioner nominated by Latvia, Andris Piebalgs, is in charge of Development policy. The new European Commission has planned to convene for its first meeting on 10 February this year.

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