Mandelson: Trade brief

The European Commission needs to re-establish its credibility, Peter Mandelson has said.

The new trade chief was in Brussels on Friday to meet many of his new commission colleagues for the first time.

The session had been called by commission chief Jose Manual Durao Barroso.

Barroso was set to use the meeting with the 25-strong commission to set out his vision for the post-enlargement role of the body.

Mandelson was awarded the top-level trade portfolio when the new president handed out the jobs recently. 

The former Cabinet minister said the new commission, in which member states each have one representative, has a key role to play.

"The task for the commission is to re-establish its credibility and others' confidence in it," Mandelson told the BBC.

"We need to show we are on the public's side, doing what is important to make people better off and safer, and demonstrating our relevance to everyone in member states.

"For that we need a clear European vision, a clear set of priorities and and a close working relationship to get the best out of the EU for the general public."

To take up his appointment Mandelson has stepped down from the Commons - with an October by-election now expected.

He will formally take up his role as Europe's trade commissioner on November 1.