‘Reject Borg’ German liberal MEP says

A German member of the European Parliament has said that Tonio Borg, Malta's foreign minister, should not be allowed to join the college of European commissioners.

"Commission president José Manuel Barroso should not have accepted Tonio Borg as candidate for the job of health commissioner," said Holger Krahmer, a German Liberal MEP.

European newspaper 'European Voice' reported Krahmer insist that "either Malta withdraws Borg as candidate or Barroso must reject him, even before [Borg's] hearing in the European Parliament next week," he said.

Borg's hearing before three Parliament committees - for the environment, public health and food safety, and internal market and consumer protection - is scheduled for next Tuesday.

Borg has come under criticism for his socially conservative views, on women's rights, homosexuality and abortion.

He now also faces questions over a Kazakh citizen who was granted residency in Malta at a time when Kazakhstan was seeking his extradition. "A court should decide over the allegations against Borg,"  Krahmer - the spokesman on the environment for the German Liberal MEPs - said. "I do, however, think it is remarkable that the President of the Commission should make such a proposal to the European Parliament."

The European Parliament is consulted on commissioner's nominations but does not have the power to reject candidates.