The college of 20 EU Commissioners met with Convention President, Valery Giscard d’Estaing, on Wednesday but no agreement emerged on a recent controversial proposal to create a "foreign secretary" under the Commission’s control.

The European Voice reported last week that the Commission’s view to create such an office had met with fierce opposition from within the Convention’s hierarchy. According to a plan by Regional Affairs Commissioner, Michel Barnier, the roles of the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and the External Relations Commissioner would be merged. Senior officials are said to believe that such a post does not belong within the Commission.

Commission President, Romano Prodi, and Mr Giscard d’Estaing said that Wednesday’s discussion had been constructive and amicable but that no formal conclusions had been met. The future competences of the Commission, financial discipline, and the EU budget were among the main topics for discussion.

Written by Nicola Smith
Edited by Lisbeth Kirk

Story from EUobserver.com