MEPs will vote on Wednesday 16 September on whether to appoint José Manuel Barroso for a second term as President of the European Commission.

The Conference of Presidents – the leaders of Parliament’s political groups and the President of Parliament – confirmed on Thursday that the vote would be held when they adopted the final draft agenda of next week’s parliamentary session in Strasbourg. The decission of the Council approving Barroso's presidency was issued on the Official Journal of the European Union in July.

The Council, in fact, had already bet for the continuity of Barroso, the only candidate for the position, in its last meeting on 18 and 19 June 2009. Now, he just needs the approval of the Parliament to continue being Commission's Chairman in the new political term, which starts on November 1st.

José Manuel Barroso has been the chairman of the Commission since November 2004 when he left the presidency of Portugal to replace Romano Prodi as head of the Commission. Mr Barroso will debate his plans for a possible second term in office with Parliament on Tuesday.  The vote on whether to elect him as Commission President will take place the following day at midday.