The Prime Minister, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, in Madrid yesterday received the 27 commissioners who make up the new Commission with a request: you have to work at full throttle for lost time. The meeting in the palace of El Pardo was scheduled for Jan. 8, but then the commissioners had not yet been ratified by Parliament, so that Zapatero had to settle for receiving the Commission President, José Manuel Durão Barroso , and the brand new permanent Council president, Herman van Rompuy.

Then came the withdrawal of the Bulgarian commissioner candidate and the consequent delay, so that the Commission was released on 9 February and a visit to Madrid to discuss the agenda of the Spanish presidency, when there was about to end the second of which lasts six months. And most of the projects of the Spanish presidency can not succeed if there previously, a European Commission proposal.

Therefore, government sources yesterday showed themselves “very satisfied” with the commitments made and, above all, accompanied by dates.

For one thing, Barroso confirmed that on March 3 will be ready the Commission document on the Strategy 2020. This is undoubtedly the jewel of the Spanish presidency, the roadmap for a coordinated exit from the crisis to sustainable economic growth, competitive and quality jobs. A roadmap must include tools to encourage countries to fulfill their objectives or to punish the defaulters. In the European spring summit in March, should be adopted broad outline, and in June, which closes the Spanish presidency, be ratified.

The High Representative, Catherine Ashton, reiterated its intention to submit by April of this project to create an European External Action Service, the diplomatic corps-and EU Energy Commissioner, the German Günter Oettinger, promised that the end of May Energy Plan 2010-14, which should ensure EU energy security. Barroso also indicated that at the end of March, one month in advance, will be the rules of the popular legislative initiative, thus promoting legal reforms in the EU with a million signatures.