FACTBOX-Who's who in the new European Commission

Nov 27 (Reuters) - European Commission President Jose Manuel
Barroso announced on Friday the line-up of the European Union's
executive arm for its forthcoming five-year term.

Following is Barroso's list of candidates who will face
hearings at the European Parliament on Jan. 11-19 before the
assembly votes on the Commission on Jan. 26.

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MAIN ECONOMIC PORTFOLIOS

Economic and Monetary Affairs:

* Olli Rehn, a 47-year-old liberal former Finnish politician
who won much respect as enlargement commissioner in the outgoing
EU executive.

He served as an economics adviser to a former Finnish prime
minister, although he holds no economics degree. Rehn is known
as a good organiser and skilful negotiator.

His main tasks will be to enforce EU budget rules following
the economic crisis, increase coordination of the bloc's
macroeconomic policies and, possibly, oversee the adoption of
the euro by several countries in central and eastern Europe.

Competition:

* Joaquin Almunia, a 61-year-old Spanish socialist who won
praise as economic and monetary affairs chief in the outgoing
Commission.

An economist by education, Almunia oversaw reforms of EU
budget rules and helped to draft the Commission's response to
the economic crisis.

Not a technocrat in the competition area, Almunia will face
the challenge of enforcing EU antitrust and state aid rules when
some governments would like to protect their national
industries. He will have to ensure that state aid for banks is
accompanied by restructuring programmes, a sensitive issue.

His job will involve fining companies for anti-competitive
practices such as taking part in cartels or abusing a dominant
position in the marketplace.

Internal Market:

* Michel Barnier, a 57-year-old close ally of French
President Nicolas Sarkozy who had served as environment and
agriculture minister as well as the regional aid commissioner.

France had lobbied hard for Barnier, an organiser of the
1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, to receive the internal
market job -- which is key for planned reforms of the financial
sector.

Politicians say Britain will look closely at Barnier's
efforts as London tries to ensure its City financial district
does not lose its clout as a result of new regulations aimed at
preventing any future economic crisis.

Trade:

* Karel De Gucht, a 54-year-old former Belgian foreign
minister who serves as humanitarian aid commissioner in the
outgoing EU executive.

His nomination for the powerful post came as a surprise
especially after his compatriot Herman Van Rompuy had been
selected as the first EU president under a new treaty.

Known for strong language, he caused controversy when he
criticised Congolese leaders in 2004 and when he called Dutch
Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende "a mix between Harry Potter
and a rigid bourgeois".

His main task will be to try to revive the international
Doha trade talks and negotiate trade agreements between the EU
and other countries.

Energy:

* Guenther Oettinger, a 56-year-old German Christian
Democrat who had served as premier of the state of
Baden-Wuerttemberg.

The nomination of a candidate from EU heavyweight Germany
highlights the growing importance of energy in EU policy.

Oettinger will oversee efforts to create a common EU energy
policy and negotiate with Russia if there is another gas crisis
linked to its transit via Ukraine.

OTHER COMMISSIONERS:

* Laszlo Andor, Hungary: Employment, Social Affairs and
Inclusion

* Catherine Ashton, Britain: High Representative of the
Union for Foreign Affairs and Security

* Dacian Ciolos, Romania: Agriculture and Rural Development

* John Dalli, Malta: Health and Consumer Policy

* Maria Damanaki, Greece: Maritime Affairs and Fisheries

* Stefan Fuelle, Czech Republic: Enlargement and European
Neighbourhood Policy

* Johannes Hahn, Austria: Regional Policy

* Connie Hedegaard, Denmark: Climate Action

* Maire Geoghegan-Quinn, Ireland: Research and Innovation

* Rumiana Jeleva, Bulgaria: International Cooperation,
Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response

* Siim Kallas, Estonia: Transport

* Neelie Kroes, the Netherlands: Digital Agenda

* Janusz Lewandowski, Poland: Budget

* Cecilia Malmstrom, Sweden: Home Affairs

* Andris Piebalgs, Latvia: Development

* Janez Potocnik, Slovenia: Environment

* Viviane Reding, Luxembourg: Justice, Fundamental Rights
and Citizenship

* Maros Sefcovic, Slovakia: Inter-Institutional Relations
and Administration

* Algirdas Semeta, Lithuania: Taxation and Customs Union,
Audit and Anti-Fraud

* Antonio Tajani, Italy: Industry and Entrepreneurship

* Androulla Vassiliou, Cyprus: Education, Culture,
Multilingualism and Youth

(Writing by Marcin Grajewski; editing by David Stamp)
((marcin.grajewski@thomsonreuters.com; +322 2876830; Reuters
Messaging: marcin.grajewski.reuters.com@reuters.net))