Socialist MEPs hail resignation but say new commissioner should be chosen after elections

The president of the Socialist and Democrat group of MEPs, Hannes Swodoba, has called on the Maltese government to only appoint its new Commissioner after the next general elections are held.

Swodoba said the S&D group supported the resignation of Commissioner John Dalli, who stepped down from the EC after anti-fraud watchdog OLAF, which investigates fraud allegations involving the EU budget, corruption and serious misconduct within the EU institutions, had received a complaint in May 2012 from the tobacco producer Swedish Match.  The company argued that a Maltese entrepreneur had used his contacts with the Commissioner to try to gain financial advantage from the company in return for seeking to influence a possible future legislative proposal on tobacco products, in particular on the EU export ban on tobacco snuff 'snus'.

Commenting on Commissioner Dalli's decision to resign, Hannes Swoboda, S&D Group President, said: "We support the resignation of Commissioner Dalli. It is imperative that each Commissioner representing the European Commission is above suspicion.

"The EU Commission must act in a way where honesty has to be the priority."

Concerning the nomination of a successor, Hannes Swoboda added:   "It would make sense to wait for the result of the next general elections in Malta, which are due to be held in the coming months, before a new Commissioner is nominated."