BRUSSELS, Nov 26 (Reuters) - Finland's Olli Rehn is likely to take charge of European Union economic and monetary affairs, taking over from Spain's Joaquin Almunia, who is expected to become the bloc's antitrust chief, EU diplomats said.
They said European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso was also expected to appoint former Belgian foreign minister Karel De Gucht -- the EU's development and humanitarian aid commissioner -- as trade commissioner in the new EU executive.
Germany's Guenther Oettinger is likely to become EU energy commissioner, the diplomats said on Thursday.
The new European Commission is due to take office at the start of next year. The changes are part of efforts to increase the EU's influence on the world stage. ((Reporting by Darren Ennis, Marcin Grajewski, Jan Strupczewski; editing by Dale Hudson)) ((Brussels Newsroom, Tel:+32-2 287 6830; Fax:+32-2 230 7710; brussels.newsroom@reuters.com))