Brussels, 23/10/2012 (Agence Europe) - The hearing of Tonio Borg by the competent parliamentary committee could take place within “two weeks”, Commissioner for Interinstitutional Relations Maros Sefcovic said while presenting the Commission's 2013 work programme on Tuesday 23 October. This timing was nevertheless tempered by the European Parliament. “We still have to receive the Commission's official confirmation” accepting the candidature of the Maltese minister for foreign affairs, Tonio Borg, and it will then be up to the “conference of presidents” to take a decision, the European Parliament's press service said. The parliamentary groups' presidents could discuss this question on Friday. Welcomed on Monday by President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso, Borg could replace his compatriot, John Dalli, who has been obliged to step down because of accusations of trading favours (see EUROPE 10715).
Sefcovic moreover assured the European Parliament that work on the tobacco directive would continue according to its 2012 work programme. “It's a priority for the Commission to present this directive in time for the European Parliament to be able to give its opinion” in the course of this term of office, he said. (MB/transl.fl)