Strasbourg, 17/11/2004 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday afternoon José Manuel Barroso told MEPs that he was in their hands and asked for their confidence. The president-elect of the European Commission said that three weeks ago he suggested "stopping the clocks" and today the time had come to get them going again (his draft decision of 27 October to postpone the presentation of his team for Parliament's investiture). He exclaimed that, "With your support, we can build a better Europe. My team is ready to play its role and is eager to do so. Therefore, let's get to work". During the debate, attended by the president of the European Council Jan Peter Balkenende, Mr Barroso assured MEPs that he had listened to them and he had underlined the need to provide a Commission that was strong and competent. He also said that to respond to this demand he had proceeded to making changes and he thought it necessary and fair that a certain number of different and sometimes contradictory expectations from the political families of this parliament and Member States were presented. He said that this would involve "shared responsibility", agreement in every Member State and that he had discussed with "colleagues from the European Council by underlining the concerns of the Parliament".
Total support from the EPP-ED and the Union for a Europe of Nations had been gained from the outset for Mr Barroso. His reshuffle managed to convince most of the wavering Socialist and Liberal Democrat groups. Nonetheless, three other groups have confirmed their "no": the Greens/European Free Alliance and the United Left/Nordic Green Left, as well as the Independence and Democracy group.
Mr Barroso welcomed the flexibility demonstrated by the parliament in organising the hearing after his team reshuffle (with two new Commissioners - Franco Frattini and Andris Piebalgs and Laszlo Kovacs changing from energy to taxation). Hearings were not made any less gruelling. Barroso also confirmed his commitment (taken in response to the concerns about Rocco Buttiglione's candidacy): Editor's note) to set up a new group of Commissioners for fundamental rights, the fight against discrimination and equal opportunities (he will chair it himself, with Commissioner Frattini as an assistant) and is intention to propose "a series of ambitious measures to strengthen respect for fundamental rights". He said that he had taken other measures to set up "very strict procedures for avoiding conflicts of interest in competition. Overall, he said this would allow them to "preserve the balance of the initial team" and a Commission that had the highest ever proportion of women. He informed MEPs that the Commission would get its strength from the college it made up. He also said that the treaty included the approval of the overall College. Addressing MEPs he asked them during their vote to assess the Commission in respect of its ability to serve, as a College and with the Parliament, the general European interest. Mr Barroso employed the term "positive complicity" to define his relationship with the European Parliament and provided assurances that he wanted "mutual respect, which had been consolidated during the approval process…reflected in a renewed framework agreement". He stated that he Commission and Parliament would emerge stronger from this approval process and that with this new strength would come greater responsibility. He renewed his initiation last July to MEPs to build a "partnership for Europe". He averred that it was urgent that they get to work and appealed for a positive agenda for change which meant that they needed to create conditions for growth and jobs; strengthen European democracy and work for ratification of the constitution; make recent enlargement successful; improve the quality of life with the European "modern" model; reaffirm Europe as an "area of freedom and justice" and work for peace, security and sustainable development in the whole world. He concluded that it was necessary to create a Europe for future generations and "capture the imagination and enthusiasm of our youth".
During the debate, Hans-Gert Pöttering admitted that "many members" of the EPP-ED group, which he chairs, would have preferred Hungary to have followed Latvia's example and withdrawn the candidacy of Mr Kovacs, but welcomed the "noble gesture" of Rocco Buttiglione, who withdrew. Mr Pöttering, who once again stressed the European values of tolerance and pluralism, and voiced his hopes that in future, governments would give the President of the Commission more leeway to set up his or her own team. He proposed to hold a debate at the December plenary on the political priorities of the Parliament for the period until 2009, which could be useful to Mr Barroso when he presents his programme in January. The President of the Socialist Group, Martin Schulz (see also page 5) said that this Barroso team is better than the previous one, but that it could have been even better, and took advantage of the presence of the Dutch Prime Minister to observe with regret that he had not withdrawn the candidacy of Ms Kroes: there will be much to discuss of the consequences of this, he warned. Addressing Mr Barroso, Mr Schulz repeated: if you want a large majority, you need the cooperation of the social democrats. He added; "seek cooperation with our group, it is better than depending on the votes of the extreme right" (a reference to the risk that on 27 October, the Barroso Commission may have squeezed through with the votes of the independent MEPs, such as members of the French National Front). You must be aware that all political leanings are represented within your Commission, and that the social democrats are a powerful force in all the institutions, he stressed (and was booed by a section of the hemicycle). Graham Watson, President of the ALDE group, warned: you should attach some price to our "yes" (see other article on the resolution to be voted on this Thursday). Admitting that Martin Schulz had sought dialogue, he warned what he called the "permanent opposition" of the Parliament: "there is no dignity or honour" in rejecting a Commission which has moved within the limits of the constraints upon it. The UEN group will approve the Commission, confirmed Roberta Angelilli, but spoke out against the "anti-Buttiglione, and also slightly anti-Italian crusade", and criticising Martin Schulz for his words "which carried a whiff of blackmail": "the Commission needs all of the democratic forces of the Parliament, not just to agree with one group". As an independent, I am a "realist", and I will approve the new Commission, said the Slovakian Sergej Kozli, who appealed for a more dynamic Europe, stating: Europe is an "economic community".
Monica Frassoni confirmed the "no" vote of the Greens/EFA group of which she is co-President, referring to the cases of: Mr Frattini, who "signed a misguided law on conflicts of interest" and worked with "a gentleman who was condemned to eight years in prison for corruption" ("unfortunately, the Berlusconisation of Europe is taking hold"), she said; -Ms Kroes, indicating that apart from the 35 past cases of incompatibility which have already been flagged up, her presence today would make the Commission "lame" because of three things: modification of competition rules in maritime transport, bitumen cartel, and abuse of dominant position by the British telephone company MM02; -Mr Dimas, whose appointment to the Environment dossier "reflects the priorities" of the new Commission (but "we are prepared to go on the charm offensive to prove to him that he is wrong"). Mr Barroso "used homeopathy where surgery was needed", said Francis Wurtz, the President of the GUE/NGL, speaking out against a "double provocation" concerning: -Ms Kroes, "who is known for her immersion in the business world" (Mr Wurtz spoke of a "real conflict of interest machine"); Mr Frattini, "who comes from a background which will not go down in history as the most ardent proponent of justice and (…) the promotion of liberties" (Mr Wurtz also noted that the Commission's entry into force may coincide with the general strike of Italian magistrates in relation to the Berlusconi affair). "No thank you", announced Jens-Peter Bonde, President of the Independence/Democracies group, who once again criticised the lack of transparency in the EU and the role of the bureaucrats.
Four-group resolution calls on President to invite any Commissioner subject to a vote of no confidence to step down
Before gaining the investiture, Mr Barroso will have to face the Caudine Forks of the Parliament once more. The proposed joint resolution signed by four political groups- EPP-ED, PES, ALDE and UEN calls for Mr Barroso to accept the following modifications to the inter-institutional agreement; -if the EP enters a vote of no confidence against one Commissioner, the President must ask that person to step down or justify his refusal to do so before the EP; -any replacements for a Commissioner must be done in full respect of the Parliamentary appointment procedure (with a hearing before the EP and its vote); -the same procedure will apply to any changes within the college; -the President will have to assume responsibility for any problems related to a conflict of interest; - the multi-annual programme will be established in cooperation with the EP; -the Commission will undertake to present a legislative proposal when the EP asks it to do so under article 192 of the treaty; a revision of regulation 1049/01 on access to documents is required; -the European Parliament requires better information on legislative activity, and on international negotiations.