As expected, the Finnish government announced on Thursday that it had put forward Olli Rehn as Finland's candidate for the new European Commission.
Rehn served as Enlargement Commissioner in the 2004-2009 Commission.
The government has hinted on several occasions that it would like to see Mr Rehn given a high-profile portfolio, perhaps involving the economy or external affairs.
The debate over the portfolio distribution in the new Commission gathered steam after the re-election by the European Parliament in early September of the outgoing EC President José Manuel Barroso.
Barroso is expected to unveil the make-up of the new European Commission at an EU summit at the end of October.
Thereafter the selections will have to be approved by the European Parliament.
