På den ene side er der kommissærens og formanden for Kommissionens uafhængighedspligt, som stadfæstes i artikel 157 i traktaten, men på den anden side er der også såvel kommissærens som formanden for Kommissionens mulighed for at give udtryk for deres politiske holdninger og for at stå inde for deres politiske holdninger over for Dem.
On the one hand, there is the duty of the Commissioners and the President of the Commission to be independent, as recognized by Article 157 of the Treaty, but on the other hand, there is the possibility for a Commissioner, or the President of the Commission, to reveal his political opinions and to be answerable for them before you.