Conservative Dutch politician Neelie Kroes is to stay on as European Commissioner. The Dutch government nominated the conservative Dutch politician on Tuesday in consultation with EU Commission President José Manuel Barroso.

Since 2004 Ms Kroes, a member of the conservative VVD party, has built up a steely reputation as European Competition Commissioner. Most recently she forced major banks in the Netherlands, the UK and Belgium to break up and slim down in compensation for receiving state aid. In the past she clashed with software US giant Microsoft, forcing it to modify its Windows Vista operating system, and slapped record fines running into billions of euros on companies guilty of forming cartels.

However, Ms Kroes will not be holding on to her competition portfolio, and according to Prime Minister Balkenende will be switching to a new “future-oriented” post dealing with IT and technology. By backing Ms Kroes rather than a new face, the Dutch are likely to hold on to a heavyweight job in the EU’s powerful executive body.

The news that the former minister and MP would be staying on at the commission has been welcomed by most parties in the Dutch parliament, in particular by her own VVD party. Labour Party leader Mariëtte Hamer also called the nomination “good news”, while the centre-left D66 party said her energy and determination was good for EU citizens.

Only the Socialist Party had its reservations. While the party was glad that the Netherlands had again put forward a woman, it was concerned that the European Commission, dominated by Christian democrats and conservatives, would be further to the right than it has ever been. Aged 68, Neelie Kroes will be the commission’s oldest member.

Neelie Kroes - ANP