Cohn-Bendit, who was elected as head of the 'Europe Ecologie' list in France, said that such a solution would be a "perfect compromise" and a "face-saving" move for both the European Parliament and the EU heads of state and government.
The Parliament has shown its strength by postponing until autumn the vote on the re-appointment of Barroso at the Commission's helm (EurActiv 14/07/09).
Those supporting the Portuguese are concerned that the delay could create competition for his post, if and when two other top positions are created following the Lisbon Treaty's ratification: permanent president of the European Council and EU foreign policy chief.
Both the Socialists and the centre-right EPP group recently admitted that new candidates could emerge by September for the Commission job.
In a recent meeting with French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Cohn-Bendit said Barroso was "not the right man in the right place in times of crises". Cohn-Bendit claims that Barroso is not a strong leader capable of steering the commissioners.
"Each time there is a conflict, he pretends he doesn't see, and waits until it calms down," he was quoted as saying.
Speaking to Euronews yesterday, Cohn-Bendit said he saw Joschka Fischer, the former German Green foreign minister, and Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, the Danish president of the Party of European Socialists (PES), as better candidates. He also mentioned the new leader of the Liberal group in the European Parliament, Guy Verhofstadt.
Cohn-Bendit also added the names of former Irish UN high commissioner for human rights Mary Robinson, former British EU commissioner Chris Patten and former Italian commissioner Mario Monti.
