A crucial vote on the new college of Commissioners scheduled for 27 October has been postponed due to fears that it would have been voted down by the 732-strong European Parliament.
Despite heavy criticism from the Socialists towards the Italian Commissioner Rocco Buttiglione, Barroso refused to move him from the justice and security portfolio until this morning. The situation turned critical following a decision by the Socialist group on the evening of 26 October to vote collectively against Barroso's team.
"I have come to the conclusion that if a vote is taken today, the outcome will not be positive for European institutions or for the European project," Barroso said to MEPs at 11am on 27 October.
The big question now is what Barroso will now do to appease all sides and rally overall support for his team. Reshuffling is one possibility, as the Socialists may be satisfied with a change of portfolio for Mr Buttiglione and three other commissioners.
In the meantime, Italian sources say that Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi has consulted his allies about a possible replacement for the embattled commissioner, Rocco Buttiglione. Foreign minister Franco Frattini, former economics minister Giulio Tremonti, former commissioner Emma Bonino and current Competition Commissioner Mario Monti have all been touted as possible candidates.
It is highly unlikely, however, that the change of one commissioner would create the overall political balance needed for a positive vote among the MEPs. It is likely that two to three commissioners will have to be sacrificed along with Buttiglione.
The Dutch Presidency will hold an emergency summit on 28 October in Rome to discuss the crisis, one day before the EU Constitution is due to be signed.
The assembly of the new college may take weeks or even a month. During that time, Romano Prodi's Commission will remain in Brussels in a caretaker capacity.
