Incoming European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso says he has finalized the lineup of his new team for the European Union's top executive body.
He says the team he presented to the EU summit in Brussels today (Thursday) includes Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini as the Justice Commissioner.
Mr. Barroso withdrew his designated team last week in the face of a threatened European Parliament veto because of the views of the previous Italian nominee (Rocco Buttiglione) on women and homosexuality.
Other changes include Latvia's replacement of its nominee (Ingrida Udre) and the transfer of the proposed Hungarian member (Laszlo Kovacs) to another commission post because of objections from European lawmakers.
Meanwhile, the 25 EU leaders are also expected to discuss such issues as Iraq and the Middle East ahead of a meeting with Iraq's interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi Friday.