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PM Giorgios Papandreou announced that Maria Damanaki will replace Stavros Dimas and will become the new Greek EU commissioner.

The Greek government is negotiating with the EC so that Mrs. Damanaki will be able to take over either the labor or shipping field. Greece insists for her to take the healthcare field in discussions with the commission’s chairman Jose Manuel Barroso.

After the end of the emergency EU summit the Greek PM said that he is appointing Maria Damanaki, after a conversation with Mr. Barroso, who said he wanted the new commissioner to be a woman.

When she found out she is appointed Maria Damanaki was not surprised and said for Ta Nea newspaper that “for some time with Mr. Papandreou they have discussed this subject”. Ever since PASOK was in opposition Mrs. Damanaki has been dealing with subjects of healthcare, education and culture, while she was member of the Political council of the party.

“I chose a person, who has contributed a lot for the Greek political life and in the fight for democracy and I am certain that Maria Damanaki will be useful for Europe no matter what position she will take in the European Commission,” said Mr. Papandreou.

Yesterday the leaders of the 27 EU countries chose Belgium PM Herman Van Rompuy and the British baroness Catherine Ashton for the positions chairman and “foreign minister” respectively. Mr. Papandreou, who is in Brussels right now, explained Greece’s decision to support Catherine Ashton for foreign minister because she has experience in the field of foreign trade, she is positive towards the EU and because during her chairwomanship in the British Lords Council she ratified the Lisbon treaty. Also an important reason is that she is a woman.