People are beginning to fidget. More and more are muttering their excuses and leaving early. Even the captain and master-of-ceremonies is losing interest. It could be a boring dinner-or a ship cruise. Unfortunately, this is the European Commission, the institution charged with running the European Union. Officially, the commission's mandate does not end until November. But three members of the college of 20 have already left to return to national politics. The first to go was Anna Diamanto-poulou, a Socialist who gave up her job as social-affairs commissioner to stand in Greece's general election last month. Next Pedro Solbes, in charge of economic affairs, was appointed as Spain's new finance minister. And last week Michel Barnier, the commissioner for regional policy, became France's new foreign minister. All three have been replaced, but by lesser figures.
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