4. Composition of Parliament

By letter of 9 May 2008, José Manuel Barroso (President of the Commission) had informed the President of the European Parliament that the Council of the European Union had nominated Antonio Tajani as a member of the Commission in place of Franco Frattini.

The President of the Commission intended to entrust Antonio Tajani with the transport portfolio.

Parliament noted that, pursuant to Article 7(1) of the Act concerning the election of the members of the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage, this post was incompatible with that of Member of the European Parliament and that Antonio Tajani's mandates had therefore been incompatible since 9 May 2008, the date of his nomination by the Council as a member of the Commission.

Parliament had yet to rule on the appointment of Antonio Tajani as a member of the Commission pursuant to paragraph 4 of the Framework Agreement between Parliament and the Commission and under Rule 99 of its Rules of Procedure, and the President therefore proposed that the establishment of the vacancy of the seat be postponed until the vote in plenary. However, in view of the incompatibility of his mandate with effect from 9 May 2008, Antonio Tajani could no longer take part in the work of the European Parliament and its bodies.

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The Italian authorities had given notice of the following appointments to the European Parliament:
- Giacomo Santini to replace Renato Brunetta,
- Matteo Salvini to replace Umberto Bossi,
- Iva Zanicchi to replace Mario Mantovani,
- Fabio Ciani to replace Luciana Sbarbati,
- Catiuscia Marini to replace Lapo Pistelli,
- Giuseppe Bova to replace Alfonso Andria,
- Edmondo Cirielli to replace Adriana Poli Bortone,
- Roberto Fiore to replace Alessandra Mussolini.

Iva Zanicchi, Fabio Ciani, Catiuscia Marini, Giuseppe Bova and Roberto Fiore had been appointed Members of the European Parliament with effect from 16 May 2008.

Under Rule 3(2), until such time as their credentials had been verified or a ruling had been given on any dispute, and provided that they had previously made written declarations stating that they did not hold any office incompatible with that of Member of the European Parliament, Iva Zanicchi, Fabio Ciani, Catiuscia Marini, Giuseppe Bova et Roberto Fiore would take their seats in Parliament and on its bodies and would enjoy all the rights attaching thereto.

However, it was noted that Giacomo Santini, Matteo Salvini and Edmondo Cirielli could not take their seats in the European Parliament as they were currently members of the Italian Parliament, a post incompatible with that of Member of the European Parliament under Article 7(2) of the Act of 20 September 1976 concerning the election of the members of the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage. Their seats would therefore remain vacant.

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The French authorities had given notice of the appointment of Catherine Boursier to replace Adeline Hazan as Member of Parliament with effect from 18.05.2008.

Under Rule 3(2), until such time as her credentials had been verified or a ruling had been given on any dispute, and provided that she had previously made a written declaration stating that she did not hold any office incompatible with that of Member of the European Parliament, Catherine Boursier would take her seat in Parliament and on its bodies and would enjoy all the rights attaching thereto.