Controversy and compromise

MUSLIM women who cover their faces in Europe are not being reasonable in adapting to western society, the President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso believes.

The former Portuguese prime minister, who is nearing the half-way point of his five years in office, has so far managed to remain uncontroversial in the very challenging job of heading up the EU’s central institution.

Selected as a compromise candidate at a summit presided over by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern during Ireland’s presidency, he has a reputation for being a good communicator in at least three languages.