MEPs want Borg to make ‘unambiguous’ commitment to seven pledges

Tonio Borg will have to deliver a public "unambiguous and full commitment" to seven separate pledges - such as treating all EU citizens equally and support EU policies on women's rights - if he is to be endorsed by a majority of the European Parliament, the chairman of the committee on environment, public health and food safety Matthias Groote MEP said today.

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Groote presented the evaluation of foreign minister Tonio Borg's hearing by his committee and those of the internal market, and agriculture committees whose MEPs earlier this week grilled the commissioner-designate for three hours.

"The appraisal of the commissioner-designate proved to be highly controversial," Groote said of the positions of the political groups in his committee, which mainly deals with the health portfolio Borg is expected to assume.

While Borg appears to have been fully endorsed by his own political grouping, the European People's Parties, and the European Conservatives and Reformists, he faced jagged criticism from the socialists, Greens, liberals, and communists from the ENVI committee. No objections were registered from the IMCO and AGRI committees.

But for Borg to be endorsed by a majority of the House, whose secret ballot is a non-binding vote, the commissioner-designate will have to reaffirm publicly, prior to the final vote, his "unambiguous and full commitment" to:

-       (1) delivering the Tobacco Products Directive by January 2013, (2) adopt laws on animal cloning by mid-2013, (3) and ban animal testing for cosmetics by March 2013;

-       (4) better enforce EU law on animal transport;

-       (5) fully respect and abide by the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, in particular Article 21, as well as EU anti-discrimination and case-law;

-       (6) recognise the innate dignity of all EU citizens, regardless of sexual orientation and to treat all citizens "fairly and equally, actively working to address health inequalities and act against stigmatisation of people suffering from HIV/AIDs, and (7) actively support EU policies with regards to women's rights."

The EPP, which has 271 seats, said Borg's performance had been very good, and showed a surprisingly good grasp of the numerous specific issues of his portfolio, making commitments for the delivery of the Tobacco Products Directive.

"Mr Borg was fully qualified not only in the light of his performance at the hearing but also on the basis of his rich political experience, his commitment to social values and his clear pro-European convictions."

The S&D (189 seats) also gave Borg a positive assessment but expressed concerns about his previous stance in national politics on issues of gender equality and women's sexual and reproductive rights. The socialists took note of his statements that his views would not translate into attempts to influence EU policies. "The S&D group would like to remind the candidate that as he had made specific commitments in public and that it would watch very carefully that he delivers on all those."

Rejections will come from the ALDE liberals (85) who said that despite Borg's professional performance, were concerned that his views on homosexuality, divorce, abortion, and the scientific use of tissues and cells would imperil his necessary impartiality. ALDE said it would withhold any support.

The Greens-EFA (59 seats) will also reject Borg, on the grounds of sensitive questions related to women's rights, gay rights, rights of minorities. "A commissioner does not merely have to abide by the Treaties but also develop new policies based thereon and his statements did not match his track record."

The ECR (52) defended Borg, saying his alleged "incompatibility with European values" could not be used to evaluate him, and that freedom of thought and expression, including religious liberty, were also part of broader European values. While it regretted that Borg's answers had not been very clear, it would "not intend to oppose the appointment".

The right-wing Europe of Freedom and Democracy (34) was not present for the evaluation, while members of the European United Left (34) criticised Borg for making "a career out of support for some of the harshest provisions against gender equality, LGBT rights, reproductive rights including restrictions on pregnant women's ability to travel outside Malta if seeking abortion. His conservative views... would be detrimental and counterproductive to a number of EU policies, such as employment, social affairs, equal opportunities, common foreign security policy, development, humanitarian aid, human rights, justice and citizens' rights."