STRASBOURG. May 4: The new European Commission, headed by former Italian prime minister Romano Prodi, will take office in mid-September. European parliamentary sources said here Tuesday, reports AFP.

Prodi, who was addressing the European Parliament here, is to present a list of 19 new commissioners proposed by EU member states on July 21. along with the portfolios they will take on.

Elections to the European Parliament take place on June 13 in the 15 EU-member states and the commission must ob-tain approval from the new parliament.

The decision means the 20 current members of the EU executive. who resigned en masse last month after being threatened with dismissal by the parliament. will continue to carry out their functions until then.

The mass resignation of the EU executive body on March 15 was prompted by a report detailing fraud in its ranks. It is currently acting in a caretaker capacity.