Brussels, 13/11/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 13 November at his hearing before the European Parliament, Tonio Borg of Malta did not win over all MEPs but was obviously well-prepared and sure of himself and there was no doubt about his rallying the assembly regarding his ability to take over from his predecessor, John Dalli, on issues that he will have to tackle concerning health and consumer policy. The environment committee chairman, Matthias Groote (S&D, Germany), addressed Borg, saying by way of conclusion that he had put up a good show considering the little time available to him, had managed to answer all the questions and shown that he was competent on the subject and that he had a strong personality. In a press release published just minutes after Tonio Borg's hearing, the EPP states it is confident that Borg will do a good job.
Tonio Borg immediately expressed his determination to keep to the timetable set for adoption of the new framework on tobacco products and gave precise answers to questions put to him on other issues. The Maltese foreign minister did not seek to hide his hardliner stance on abortion (saying he would be “transparent”), which meant a number of highly pertinent questions were raised on his ability to defend women's reproductive and sexual health rights, but he shrewdly circumvented the question by saying that, in his capacity as a European commissioner, he would defend European rules. The commissioner-designate did not wish to answer questions about his predecessor's resignation or the OLAF inquiry. He was not, moreover, quizzed about his presumed links with a certain former Kazakh ambassador. Borg first of all answered questions raised by MEPs from the environment, public health and food safety committee, before going on to answer questions raised by members of the committees on the internal market and consumer protection and on agriculture and rural development.
“I shall be a European commissioner”. Unable to defend with conviction the right to abortion and the right for homosexual couples to enjoy the same freedoms as heterosexual couples (in the past Borg was well known for his extremely conservative outspokenness on such matters), the commissioner-designate brandished on several occasions Article 21 of the Treaty (which states that all discrimination based on sexual leaning is prohibited). Many MEPs covered the question: - Chris Davies (ALDE, UK), Satu Hassi (Greens/EFA, Finland), and Kartika Tamara Liotard (GUE, Netherlands) to name but a few. Borg said he would simply take inspiration from the Charter for Human Rights, in which Article 21 is “clear”. He also cited Article 168 of the Treaty whereby health policy is in the hands of member states, while saying he was not hiding behind the principle of subsidiarity in order to conceal a lack of impartiality and independence (in response to a question raised by Edite Estrela, S&D, Portugal). Borg assured the hearing he was not hiding behind anything. He is a lawyer, he pointed out, and that the law is his reference. The treaties are there and they must be respected, he went on, saying it was not his objective to give up such principles. He underlined that “what you see is what you get” and that he will abide by his mandate. The Commission, he said, cannot be involved in member state practice.
The timetable for the “tobacco” directive will be respected. Peter Liese (EPP, Germany), who was the first to take the floor, began firing questions at Borg with the one that is on everyone's lips: Will the commissioner-designate continue the work of his predecessor for revision of the directive on tobacco products? And will he keep to the timetable set? Borg was very clear and obviously very reassuring as the question was not brought up again. He said the directive is not dead, it is alive and kicking. He pledged to keep his promise to respect the timeframe set, saying his first action will be to send the directive for inter-service consultation in order to be adopted in January. Borg said he felt encouraged and supported by the president of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, in this respect.
GMO: Borg remains very cautious. In response to questions relating to genetically modified organisms (GMOs) - especially from Corinne Lepage (ALDE, France) - Borg said he would not be a slave to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) but that he did not intend to ignore their opinions either, if such opinions are clear and based on sound scientific opinion. Considering the extreme sensitivity of the question, Borg said he was waiting for a final report from EFSA before going on to the next stage, namely that of whether or not the 26 genetically modified plants pending a decision should be authorised. Borg was cautious, saying that he would not be hasty or reckless, and that it was necessary to be extremely careful. In answer to a more general question raised by Gilles Pargneaux (S&D, France) on the independence of agencies under his responsibility (European Medicines Agency - EMA, and EFSA), further to the publication of a report by the Court of Auditors, Borg indicated that safeguarding the independence of agencies was a priority matter and that he would follow the recommendations of the Court of Auditors on this. He stressed that he would apply measures to ensure that there are no conflicts of interest, specifying that he would work with other commissioners on the development of common rules on conflicts of interests. EUROPE will give further details tomorrow on issues covered. (IL/transl.jl)