Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso on Wednesday urged parliament to back his revised choice.

He had to withdraw his original line-up after MEPs objected to the conservative views of Italian nominee Rocco Buttiglione on women and homosexuals.

Observers say both sides appear happy with Mr Barroso's new team and it is likely to win the support needed.

Bruising row

MEPs are also expected to vote for new powers to sack commissioners.

Mr Barroso, who dropped two of his original choices under parliamentary pressure, said his team was "ready and anxious to build a better Europe".

He opted to withdraw his entire team three weeks ago rather than have it rejected, after a bruising row broke out over the choice of Mr Buttiglione as justice commissioner.

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was forced to replace Mr Buttiglione with Foreign Minister Franco Frattini.

In other changes, Hungary's socialist nominee Laszlo Kovacs was reshuffled to the taxation and customs job and Latvia switched its candidate.

Stronger

Speaking after Mr Barroso's appeal on Wednesday, the leaders of the three largest groups in the EU assembly said they planned to vote Yes to his team.

The Dutch Prime Minister and current EU chairman, Jan Peter Balkenende, said the expected resolution of the crisis would make the EU stronger.

The BBC's Tim Franks in Strasbourg says Mr Barroso is confident his revised team will win the backing it needs to take office.

The big challenge now, he adds, will be for the European Union to stop obsessing about itself and concentrate on delivering greater prosperity and security.