New Commissioner Caught in Political Storm

The incoming Danish commissioner in charge of agriculture, Mariann Fischer Boel, was only able to enjoy a few days of celebrations before finding herself caught in a political storm over possible conflict of interests. As the owner of a 204-hectare farm and benefiting from annual EU payments of some €60,000 ($74,000), Boel could have a personal financial interest in decisions for which she will responsible as commissioner in charge of the EU agricultural budget. The European Commission announced Saturday in a press release to Danish media that the commission's legal advisers would look into the affair. (EUobserver.com)