Brussels, 14/04/2004 (Agence Europe) - He will be the youngest of the new European Commission but he is not green, he repeated at his hearing before the European Parliament on Wednesday in Brussels. Pavel Telicka plays rugby - and it shows. He does not smoke, which is an advantage when one has to work with David Byrne, Health Commissioner. Designated by the Czech government, Pavel Telicka (38 years of age) confirmed his pro-European "enthusiasm" and his determination to seek compromises. Visibly ill prepared for answering health issues, he preferred to dodge them rather than take them full on. Several references to Pascal Lamy, whose haircut but not humour he shares, seem to show that the former Czech negotiator would have preferred to deal with trade issues, but, for the time being, he has been entrusted with a brief that he plans to assume until it expires.
Post-match celebrations were still a way off on Wednesday morning, it seeming that Pavel Telicka was there to efface his age and to appear as serious as possible. Not a smile lit up his face during one and a half hours. After having recalled that he had been jointly responsible for the Czech Republic's request for accession and then negotiator for his country, he made several preliminary observations concerning the health portfolio and consumer protection. He stressed how important food and lifestyle were. He spoke of the gap to be filled with regard healthcare services between current and future Member States. Mr Telicka urged for the highest levels of consumer protection and a single market that are truly beneficial. He went on to conclude by insisting on the general interest and the importance of economic and social cohesion.
In answer to questions put to him by British Conservative Caroline Jackson about his political past, he admitted he had belonged to the Communist party between the ages of 23 and 26 and said he had been mistaken. At the present time, he does not belong to any one political party, as, he says, the over-narrow views defended by any one party are not to his liking. "I believe in individual freedoms and in the protection or private property - which would make me more of a liberal - but at the same time I believe in solidarity and in social security", he said. In response to several questions on tobacco, he pointed out that he is a non-smoker and that he often finds other people's smoke offensive. He preferred, however, to dodge the issue of a European ban on smoking in public places, saying he would first of all like to "hear all sides". His answer was of the same kind for subsidies on tobacco production. The Commissioner-designate, however, was clearly in favour of strengthening consumer organisations, mainly in the future Member States. He said he was confident that these countries would be able to keep to the health and food safety standards. He is in favour of improving standards for the transport of animals.
Pavel Telicka spoke out clearly in favour of keeping the Directorate General SANCO, arguing that there is interaction between food, consumer protection and public health. He supports the Commission's proposal on the future financial perspectives.
In response to German Christian Democrat Peter Liese, who asked him about Turkey, Mr Telicka said one must respect the decision taken at the Helsinki Summit. "The Commission should clearly say to what extent Turkey meets the Copenhagen criteria", he said, stressing that this should provide motivation of the political decision to be taken at the end of this year.