Ms Kalniete has seen first hand what influence a commissioner has

Sandra Kalniete is one of the 10 new commissioners representing Latvia at the European Commission following the enlargement of the European Union.

Like all incoming commissioners, she is shadowing an existing commissioner - in her case Franz Fischler, who deals with agriculture and fisheries - until she is given a portfolio (or not) by the new European Commission's president who is shortly to be announced.

In the second instalment of her diary, she tells how she has spent her first couple of months in the job and what she has learnt so far.

I feel more self-confident in the job. I understand the procedures, the decision-making process and the subject much better. I don't have an official portfolio, so I mostly deal with all the issues which come to the College of Commissioners.

The job is mostly what I expected. If I had not been a minister in the past, my expectations of the job might have been very different, but there are lot of similarities between the two jobs.

I also understand better the influence a commissioner wields.

For example, on 1 June, the Russian Federation stopped all imports of animal products from the EU.

Being European does not undermine your being English, French or Latvian, but both identities are complementary and that we have to be proud of whatever we are

I raised the question at the commission (although other commissioners would have been aware of the problem) and the commissioners concerned - David Byrne (Health and Consumer Protection), Pascal Lamy (Trade), Chris Patten (External Relations) and President Romano Prodi himself - took an active position on the question and conducted efficient negotiations to suspend the Russian decision.

I realised it was an important issue, that I had a say and felt that my position on it was important.

Communicating Europe

In my first two months, I have been on many missions - about 50% of my time - taking part in different meetings and conferences around Europe, such as the informal meeting of Agricultural Ministers in Killarney, Ireland, or meetings in Iceland (on fisheries) or Slovakia.

I was also recently in Paris addressing the student association Conference Olivaint in French on the subject of European identity. I was telling them that being European does not undermine your being English, French or Latvian, but both identities are complementary and that we have to be proud of whatever we are.

The purpose of these visits is communicating about Europe, about the institutions and about the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy.

Europe needs "an exciting new project like the euro was"

If I had a portfolio, maybe I would not have so much time to spend on communication work so this is my contribution for now.

I am on my way to fulfilling my promise to people in Latvia to visit all the four regions of Latvia - I have done three out of four.

I find these trips very inspiring because I am learning a lot. Farmers tell me how they see Europe, how it works for them. They see Europe with great hope, although they also see it with caution.

I explain to them how the EU rules and directives have been transposed into national legislation. In Latvia, we had to do it in a very short period, the smaller details are still being ironed out.

Farmers don't really understand how it affects their lives and it is very difficult to explain that to them, although I try to explain what Europe does.

Through these discussions I learned that rural development is regarded as something very positive in Latvia.

When I was in France recently, in the department of Cantal with French European affairs minister Claudie Haignere, I was surprised to see that French farmers perceive rural development as a rather negative thing. There is a real duty to communicate.

Fighting apathy

I don't take the low level of participation in the European elections as such a dramatic event. I think the situation was over-dramatised. However, the reasons behind it should be investigated.

LIFE IN DATES 1952: Born in Siberia, Russia, where her family was deported after the Soviet occupation of the Baltics in 1941 1977-81: Latvian Academy of Art 1987-88: General Secretary, Latvian Artists' Union 1988-90: Latvian Popular Front: General Secretary of the LPF Co-ordinating Council, Deputy Chairman 1990-93: Deputy Foreign Minister 1992: Institute for International Studies, Leeds University 1993-97: Ambassador to the UN, Geneva 1995: Graduate Institute of International Affairs, University of Geneva 1996: Master of Art History 1997-2002: Ambassador in France 2000-2002: Ambassador to Unesco 2002-2004: Foreign Minister

I feel that they reflect the low turnout in domestic elections, the general lack of interest in politics - in old or new member states. In the new member states, the experience of Europe is almost non-existent.

I think Europe needs a new exciting project like the euro was. Enlargement is still successful - all Europeans are aware of it. This new project could be for Europe to become a global player politically and economically. The challenge is how to sell it.

In this respect, the Lisbon strategy [a 10-year strategy to make the EU the world's most dynamic and competitive economy] is not an appealing term. It is not sexy, but if it is explained properly in the right language, it can serve to raise the interest and personal engagement of Europeans.

We have to be proud that we are Europeans, that we can construct such a type of international co-operation which guarantees peace and stability.

Constitution debate

With regards to the constitution, it is up to the Latvian government and the parliament to decide whether to have a referendum on the question, but if there was to be a popular vote, a lot of explanations would have to be provided.

I was on the European Convention, which drafted the constitution text, and I negotiated for Latvia in the IGC [Intergovernmental Conference] so I know the document well, and except for a few new elements, there is basically nothing radically new - it is the same union we voted to join. I don't see a basis for a popular vote.

I watch the UK debate on the subject with great preoccupation. I regret that the Conservatives used euroscepticism in the campaign as an instrument to try to get back in office. It is extremely dangerous because manipulation can succeed.

I am following the speculation over the naming of the new European Commission president, as it will affect me and whether I have a job in the future. What I regret is that the impression of the debate on the public is negative. Once again, the EU leaders are quarrelling.

I presume that the most efficient approach would be to start from the job description. To my mind, the perfect candidate has firstly to have managerial skills and be a leader, which is already difficult to combine in one person.

Then that person has to have a vision of Europe's future, and then he/she has to set priorities in the commission's work - the commission is moving towards modernisation and this is very important now, especially after enlargement.

That person also has to maintain independence of judgement and have the ability to construct partnerships. He or she also have to raise the commission's profile and have to be an excellent communicator - which is the quality I would put in first place. One, however, has to be a born communicator.

I don't think that the only criterion for that person is to have been a prime minister. Political parties don't always produce the best candidates - although media have changed that, as it is important to be able to communicate.

The candidate has to have experience in being a leader, not necessarily from being in government. That person could come from an international organisation, from a government - like Jacques Delors who was a great president - or from the Commission itself.

What issues would you like commissioners to focus on? Send us your comments.

The relationship between US and EU: Is it necessary or is this birthing process only to be disengaged when the EU is a superpower?
Andrew Shaw, Zurich Switzerland

I would like to see the EU commissioners concentrating their minds on how the EU can be made more democratic and accountable to its citizens. Only then might the EU be seen as an asset instead of a negative.
Simon Edge, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, England

As a commissioner from a smaller and new EU member how do others from the larger and more established EU member nations or people in the commission view your 'relative status'? On a similar idea, have you experienced a different outlook between what is being referred to and 'old Europe' and the 'new EU'?
David Vincent, London, UK

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