At its sitting on February 9 the European Parliament confirmed new members of the European Commission – 26 commissioners and President José Manuel Barroso.

RFE/RL reports that the Commission members were confirmed several months behind schedule. Problems with the approval of the Lisbon treaty on EU reforms, as well as a conflict over the Bulgarian representative, account for the delay.

The commissioners will start working from February 10 and perform their duties until autumn 2014.

Before the voting, José Manuel Barroso delivered a speech before 736 European Parliament members. He outlined the European Commission’s priorities as well.

T.P.