A YEAR after José Manuel Barroso gave up being Prime Minister of Portugal to become President of the European Commission, he is still amazed by how difficult a job it is.

“Chris Patten said it was the most difficult job in the world. It was an understatement,” he said, only half joking.

He got off to one of the worst possible starts when the European Parliament vetoed his team of commissioners, forcing him to reshuffle them and dispense with two of its weakest members. The experience confirmed how the head of a national government has many advantages over the head of the Commission.

“A prime minister,” he said, “has followers who strongly support him, even if he does things that are not sensible. You can take a decision that is very difficult, but you are sure to have the support of your side of the House at least. Here, it is much more complex.” At least he doesn’t have to worry about elections and pandering to public opinion at every turn.

Having earned a reputation for cutting red tape, Senhor Barroso readily concedes that the Commission is sometimes too bureaucratic. Under pressure to introduce more controls, accountability and transparency to its workings, it has become “a very defensive administration”.

“There are very heavy procedures. When, at the national level, you push the button, you have the answer immediately. Here it takes much more time. This was an initial shock.”

Having come to terms with his new environment, there is little doubt that the Commission President, who jokingly points out that he daily breaks the EU’s working time legislation by putting in at least a 12-hour day, is stimulated by the broad range of challenges he faces.

Over the past year, he has had his fair share of criticism, in particular being accused of failing to provide strong enough leadership after the French and Dutch rejected the European constitution. “Twenty-five countries signed the constitution — two were not able to ratify. It was not the Commission. I wish that member states had the same capability of taking decisions we are showing, and the same leadership we are showing,” he said.

“Honestly, is the Commission the problem in Europe now? I don’t think the Commission is the problem. We are bringing solutions.”

But Senhor Barroso has also learnt that, when national governments are looking for something to kick, he is often the easiest target. “It is traditionally part of the job of the Commission to be the scapegoat for national incapabilities,” he said.

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