EU leaders to appoint Barroso as new EC president

EU leaders are expected to approve the appointment of Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Manuel Durao Barroso as the new president of the European Commission tonight.

Mr Barroso is expected to be nominated for the job by the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, in his role as president of the EU Council of Ministers.

The Portuguese PM emerged as a compromise candidate after EU leaders failed to agree on a new EC president at a summit two weeks ago.

Mr Ahern telephoned his EU counterparts over the weekend to discuss the matter and all said they would accept Mr Barroso for the position.