Having received a resounding 'yes' of approval from the Parliament, the College of Commissioners can start work tomorrow, Wednesday. Before the vote the EP negotiated new rules for the inter-institutional game, gaining an equal footing with the Council an

The News: Green light for the Commission – Parliament gets more powers – Gender equality

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two and a half cheers   for the new European Commission.

The Parliament votes it into office,   but with reservations.

How will the Commission   and the EP work together?

And gender politics. Do we need fresh   laws on equality between the sexes?

While our guest of the day   is Louis Michel,

former Humanitarian Aid Commissioner,   now a member of the Liberal Democrats.

Hello and welcome to this edition   of EuroparlTV News.

the second Barroso Commission finally   has the green light from the EP.

but with nearly 500 votes in his favour,   Mr Barroso had a clear majority.

the EP has approved   his new team by a large majority.

After swearing in   before the Court of Justice,

the 26 Commissioners will be able   to get down to work as soon as Thursday.

The new Commission obtained   the support of 488 MEPs

compared with 137 against   and 72 abstentions.

The ratification of the Lisbon Treaty   severely delayed their nomination.

I'm pleased because it's putting an end   to an unfortunate period for the EU.

Not to have a Commission   with genuine powers for six months

is something which we must not   allow to happen ever again.

We need a pilot, somebody   dictating the direction.

We need to see ambition,   a federative project.

So, President Barroso,   do not be afraid, dare!

Set out your strategy, your financing -   everything can be re-invented.

Dissident voices could be heard   in the chamber.

They called on their fellow MEPs   to reject all the Commissioners-designate.

The majority of   Commissioners-designate,

I'm not saying all of them, haven't shown   any determination, vision or ambition.

But all the Commission together...   The sum of the minuses produces a plus!

This is the new mathematics of   the Barroso Commission. It won't work.

Barroso’s Commission   has got its work cut out.

Its first short-term aim is   to end the economic and social crisis

that is hitting Europe and   to take on the climate change challenge.

on just how the EP and the Commission   will work together from now on.

For the EP, an important   outcome of the Lisbon Treaty,

is a stronger hand in its dealings   with President Barroso's team.

This report has been compiled by   Arnaud Demolder.

MEPs agreed to Barroso’s team taking   office, but there are strings attached.

Just before the investiture   of Mr Barroso’s team,

MEPs fixed the new game rules   for the EP and the Commission.

It’s a consequence of   the implementation of the Lisbon Treaty

and increases Parliament’s influence   in creating European laws.

In the new text it is foreseen that we too   can put forward initiatives and proposals.

Then the Commission has to react   with its own proposals on the subject.

We want them to make concrete   and specific legislation and proposals.

Another key point in this deal   with the Commission:

the nomination of the EU’s ambassadors   and representatives abroad by the EP.

The latter will only be nominated by   Catherine Ashton, foreign affairs chief.

But, the EP gained the right to observe   international meetings

such as the G20 or in areas   like fisheries or the environment.

It’s a step forward for the EP   as an international actor.

At the Copenhagen Conference   the EP delegation

couldn’t participate in the meetings of   the European Commission and Council.

Now that the Commission can negotiate   on behalf of the European Community

it is important that the Parliament can   monitor and to some extent participate.

If this framework agreement   is formally voted in by the MEPs

the Council and the EP   will have an equal say

on the legislative proposals   of the Commission.

Time to hear from today's guest.   Louis Michel has served

as both a Commissioner and now as   a Member of the European Parliament.

So, how does he see today's events?   Jim Gibbons caught up with him.

Louis Michel, you've watched the process   of the Commission being appointed.

What did you make of it?   Only one casualty...

Well I think the Commission   was working well,

and the Commissioners-designate   were performing rather well. All did.

Maybe there was an exception   with Commissioner-designate Jeleva,

For the other cases, I expect a lot of good   things coming from the Commission.

What is important is that   the team is going to work.

I just expect they will show a very strong   ambition for the European Union,

because we are in a particular moment   with important challenges

which call for ambition, and also   for break points with the past.

There seemed to be confusion about who   is in charge since the Lisbon Treaty.

You have Mr Obama refusing to   go to the EU-US summit.

We've had Mrs Clinton   contacting Jerzy Buzek

when she wanted to influence   the SWIFT deal.

I think there is one point   which is not clear enough,

it is 'who will do what   in international policy'.

The role of Mrs Ashton   will be fundamental.

She has to strongly take the lead   of that policy

without hesitation,   and without questioning herself.

She is in the lead, in the driving seat   of the international policy of the EU.

We need one voice, one face   and one policy in these issues.

And she has to do it in a stronger way.   I like her, she's competent,

Maybe she has to hesitate a little,   but less than she's doing now.

And now the rest of today's   main news headlines starting with Opel.

Thousands of jobs disappearing –   Germany and Belgium are hard-hit