EEC change?
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PERSISTENT rumours are circulating in Brussels that the EEC transport commissioner, the Greek member Giorgios Kontogeorgis will shortly resign, writes our Brussels correspondent.
This would open the way for Irish commissioner Richard Burke, who recently came back to Brussels after a short lived return to Irish politics, to take over his old job.
Mr Kontogeorgis, who is about 70, has been absent for some time because of injuries including a broken rib received in a road accident.
As a right winger, he is also out of step with Greece's new socialist Government, although this in itself would not force him to resign. A successor has already been mentioned — Mr Kyriazidis who masterminded Greece's membership of the EEC.
The commission is expected to decide next month on changes in the share-out of portfolios.
Mr Burke, who was in charge of transport for four years under former commission president Roy Jenkins, is now running the EEC's administration and other less important tasks, but he has taken on these duties on the understanding that they are only temporary.