Strasbourg, 18/11/2004 (Agence Europe) - The new European Commission will at last be able to take up its duties, having obtained the confidence of the European Parliament, in Strasbourg on Thursday. With 449 votes in its favour, 149 against and 82 abstentions, the José Manuel Barroso's Commission received a similar level of support to that enjoyed by Romano Prodi's college. In September 1999, the previous Commission was invested by 404 votes in favour, against 153 and 37 abstentions.
The new Commission obtained the support of the vast majority of the EPP-ED (with the notable exception of British Conservatives, who abstained), PES (with the exception of French Socialists, who voted against, and Italians and Greeks, who abstained) and ALDE groups (with the exception of French UDF MEPs, the Italian Radicals and the Margherita members, who abstained). The GUE/NGL and Greens/EFA groups voted en masse against the new team, whereas other groups were divided. With the UEN, the Fianna Fail Irish members and the Italian Alleanza Nazionale members voted for the new Commission, and the Polish PiS members abstained. Of the Independence and Democrats group (IND/DEM), the Lega Nord, French Sovereignists, UKIP MEPs and the Dane Bonde voted against, and the Dutch members Belder and Blokland together with the Irish member Kathy Sinnot abstained. Of the independents, members from the new member states and the Italian member De Michelis voted in favour, and the French, Belgian and Italian extreme right voted against.
Before the vote, the Parliament adopted, by 478 votes in favour, 84 against and 98 abstentions, a compromise resolution presented by four political groups (EPP-ED, PES, ALDE and UEN), which consists of a list of points the Parliament would like to see included in the framework agreement governing relations with the European Commission. Among these points features the obligation upon the president of the Commission to call for the resignation of a Commissioner who is subject to a vote of no confidence by the Parliament. The text states that if the President refuses to ask the Commission in question to step down, he or she must justify this refusal to act before the Parliament. (For the other points of this resolution, see yesterday's EUROPE, p.4).
During the short debate which followed this vote, President Barroso described the resolution as a "good basis for an update" of the inter-institutional agreement between the Parliament and the Commission, and committed to work with vice-president Wallström and the Parliament on the revision requested by the MEPs. He also made a commitment, as he had done the day before (see below), on the individual responsibility of the Commissioners in respecting the principle of collegiality. Having referred to the provisions to be put into place to resolve any potential conflicts of interest, he added: "I share the Parliament's opinion that cooperation between the institutions on the multi-annual programme of work must be stepped up (…). My team will make contact with the Parliament a top priority (…). In the past few weeks, we have experienced what I feel is a salutary exercise in European democracy (…). You have always heard a constructive message (…), even in the darkest moments you have never heard one criticism of the Parliament in this matter". He concluded by stressing that "Europe can only work in a spirit of compromise", and asked for the trust of the European Parliament, in the name of this spirit of compromise.
The German President of the EPP-ED group, Hans-Gert Pöttering, said that "given the attitude of certain governments, the Parliament and the Commission must see themselves as allies", and emphasised at length the importance of the framework agreement with the Commission, which must be renewed and reinforced. He told the members of the Commission that participation in EP meetings must take priority over every other obligation. Expressing the "critical support" of his group to the Barroso team, Mr Pöttering promised that the Parliament would do its duty in terms of keeping its eye on the Commission.
"The European Parliament does not get given rights: it has to fight for them", said the German President of the Socialist Group, Martin Schulz, quoting Willi Brandt, and adding that "this is what has happened in recent weeks". In fact, "both institutions have come out of the process stronger", he said. "It is your right to criticise the Parliament, but it is our duty to exercise controls over the executive", he said, concluding: "We will support you, but some of our colleagues do not yet trust you (…), it is now up to you to use the next few years to convince them".
The British President of the ALDE Group, Graham Watson, told Mr Barroso that he had been surprised to hear him explain to the political groups that "we have no veto on the Commissioners", and to tell them that "we tied your hands, when they were already tied in Rome and Budapest". "Today has been your driving test, tomorrow we will see you in action (…), yourself and your Commissioners will have to merit this trust month by month, day by day".
"After imagination in power, we today have hypocrisy in power", German Green member Daniel Cohn-Bendit said, again criticising Mr Barroso because, he said, he bows before "Harry Potter, alias Jan Peter Balkenende (acting in response to the laughter and whistles that he had wanted, Mr Cohn-Bendit added that he liked Harry Potter) although he says 'no' to Schröder on the super-Commissioner". He went on to call on the "many colleagues who are critical about one part of the Commission" not to "give him a majority that would allow him to walk all over us". "I know that, at the EPP (…) I am not only speaking to you but also to those who wanted to give Mr Barroso a blank cheque: so be critical, vote no or abstain", he said.
"In a few moments, your Commission, Mr Barroso, will be invested, but it is bunkum success", French Communist member Francis Wurtz said, once more deploring the fact that the justice and home affairs portfolio had been given to a former member of the Italian government. Mr Wurtz confirmed that, in these conditions, the Barroso team could not have the trust of the GUE/NGL group.
On a very polemical note, Nigel Farage (UKIP, Britain) attacked Mr Barrot of France who, he said, was "condemned in 2000 to eight months imprisonment for embezzlement (…), Kovac of Hungary (…) an Estonian apparachik (…), and Mr Mandelsson, who had been removed from the British government twice (…), and also Ms Kroes (…), who lied to the EP". He went on to ask who would even be "willing to clinch a second-hand car deal" off such a team (Ed.: taking up the old anti-Nixon slogan). This speech angered French UMP member Jacques Toubon, who wished to take the floor and then circulated among the ranks calling on group presidents to intervene. Speaking on behalf of his group, Mr Pöttering felt Mr Farage's remarks were "unworthy of our Parliament" and took Mr Barrot's defence by calling on the president to verify whether the "defamatory remarks" by Mr Farage could be reason for filing a law suit. Messrs Schulz and Cohn-Bendit associated themselves with Mr Pöttering. Graham Watson said he was "ashamed of the reputation of football hooligans some of whom are today worthy representatives within the EP". "In political debate everything is allowed except slander", Mr Wurtz said. President Borrell then asked Mr Farage to go back on what he had said, "otherwise, you will have to accept the legal consequences", he noted. "I made those declarations after having made indepth research (…). If you can prove to me that what I have said is wrong, then of course I shall withdraw what I said, and present my apologies", Nigel Farage answered (Ed.: Mr Barrot was indeed condemned in 2000 in the context of a party funding affair, but at the time he had benefited from an amnesty).
Irish co-president of the UEN Group, Brian Crowley, welcomed the statements made by Mr Barroso after adoption of the resolution. The Parliament's position was taken into account and MEPs must give their support to the new team, he affirmed before stressing: "You should show proof of good will (…) the best results can only be obtained in partnership with you (…). We support you, but you must deserve our trust".
The French far-right representative, Jean-Marie Le Pen, said that the "Buttiglione circus" (Ed.: a play of words with reference to the famous Bouglione circus) had shown that "in order to be Commissioner, one must be euro-compatible" and that "any deviationism is to be condemned". Rocco Buttiglione is the "first secular martyr under the Charter of Fundamental Rights", he added, saying that, in the Barroso Commission, the catholic had been replaced by the free mason, in allusion to membership denied by Mr Frattini.
Barroso would have liked Monti for Competition and Barrot for JHA
"Mr Barroso has heard the call from Parliament (…). We have found ourselves in a first-ever but unforeseeable situation as it was the result of democracy. There has been no crisis and it has no doubt been a salutary exercise for democracy", the President of the European Parliament, Josep Borrel, explained on Wednesday during the press conference after the vote of confidence for the Barroso Commission. This Commission gained a 66% majority, i.e. more than the investiture of Mr Barroso as President-designate, Mr Borrell noted. "The Commission comes out strengthened from this first-ever situation and the Parliament is more credible. We hope to begin a partnership based on respect and mutual confidence", he added. "I am very pleased and honoured to have received such strong support. The institutions are strengthened by this test and European democracy has matured", José Manuel Barroso added. "With a stronger and more dynamic Commission, we must raise the major challenges (…) such as competitiveness, economic growth, job creation and social justice", he repeated.
In answer to questions on how appropriate it is to revise the treaty to make the Commission appointment process more flexible, Messrs Barroso and Borrell both felt that the moment was not right for examining this matter. "There is much inertia in Europe. Ratification of the Constitution will take two years. Also, it is not the time to think about amending the treaties", Mr Borrell said. "Today, priority is not for amending the treaties but rather ratification of the constitutional treaty", Mr Barroso agreed, while admitting that: "This must not, however, prevent us from thinking about amending it".
When asked about the role of the Member States in the process of setting up the Commission, Mr Barroso admitted that certain governments had "collaborated more than others". "It is important for people to be aware of this", he added. "The functioning of the EU is highly complex, the balance between the institutions must always be respected and it is hard for the Commission to affirm its responsibility if it does not have the support of the Parliament and the Council", said Mr Barroso. "Many people say that they want a strong Commission, but that is not really what they want, because they put their own interest ahead of that of the EU's general interest", he said. "I take my responsibility seriously, but I am not the only one with responsibility", he said. "My hands are tied, but I am not complaining, because this situation is enshrined in the Treaty (…). The President of the Commission does not hold all the cards (…). And in future, as President of the Commission, I will not be able to take the decision to sack a Commissioner on my own. I will have to look at the proposals tabled by the governments", he underlined, but acknowledged: "we must improve the system. We could have found ourselves in crisis had the Parliament not had the intelligence to speed up the process". In future, he added, "if the Parliament asks me to sack a Commissioner, I will either accept this resignation, or I will disagree and will explain myself to the MEPs". In the latter case, "Mr Barroso will honour his responsibility and that of his entire team towards the Parliament", said President Borrell.
Mr Barroso explained the choice of the Commissioners once again. "First of all, I spoke to the governments, names were put forward and I made my choices. Then we negotiated. In the case of the Italian Commissioner, I accepted Franco Frattini. I wanted Mario Monti but the Italian government was not keen", said Mr Barroso. Returning to the Buttiglione case, Mr Barroso repeated that he had been up against "contradictory requests". And he explained that "I fought hard for Mr Barrot to take on the justice and home affairs portfolio, but he refused".