Barroso letter backs under-fire Bulgarian Commissioner-designate

(BRUSSELS) - EU commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso backed Friday Bulgaria's controversial nominee for commissioner, saying she was qualified for the job and had provided assurances over her financial declarations.

In a letter to European parliament president Jerzy Buzek, Barroso supported Bulgarian Foreign Minister Rumiana Jeleva who has come under attack from the parliament over her competence for the post of EU aid commissioner and alleged omissions from her declaration of financial interests.

Jeleva "has the necessary general competence, international experience and shows the necessary levels of European commitment to exercise these functions," Barroso said.

On her financial declarations he relied on her assurances.

"Ms Jeleva has also confirmed once again... that her declaration of interest... is fully accurate and complete," he added, attaching the statement in question.

However Barroso pointed out that the commission, the EU's executive arm, did not have "any specific procedure of control," for vetting such declarations.

Barroso, whose 26 member team of new commissioners are being quizzed by MEPs over their aptness and competence, also pointed out that Jeleva had been twice elected to Bulgarian parliament and was vetted before she became the country's conservative foreign minister last year.

So far Jeleva's parliamentary grilling was by far the toughest, with the Socialist camp leading the detractors and prompting the response from Barroso.

Earlier Friday Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov appeared to distance himself from his foreign minister's EU candidacy.

Speaking on national television he insisted on Jeleva's competence for the commission post, but added that he was not in a position to judge the various allegations against her.

"If she accepted to become European commissioner, it was her duty to get her papers in order. If this was not the case, she will not have my support," Borisov said.

The European parliament does not have the power to veto an individual commission nominee but can reject the whole team if it is not happy.

The parliamentary hearings continue next week with the assembly due to give its overall endorsement in a vote on January 26 after they are completed.