By Elinor Blair - 21st October 2004
José Manuel Barroso's olive branch is not long enough say European Parliament’s liberals and greens.
A peace offering from the commission is important but “does not deal with the parliament's rejection of Mr Buttiglione”, Liberal leader Graham Watson said on Thursday.
“Mr Barroso needs to be wary of bidding too low… in his attempts to address the concerns of the European Parliament,” he said.
Watson stressed his group’s “strong preference” for a reshuffle or resignation for justice and home affairs commissioner designate Rocco Buttiglione.
“Barroso has signalled his willingness to accept a resignation. Mr Buttiglione should reflect on his future," he said.
Liberals will decide on whether to vote against the entire European Commission on Monday - and may hold the key if Socialist, Green and left MEPs hold to threats to block Buttiglione.
Liberal justice spokesman Sarah Ludford used stronger language in condemning Barroso’s proposals calling them inadequate and unacceptable.
To buy off MEPs concerned over Buttiglione's vies on women and gays, the commission president promised to set up an EU task force to protect fundamental rights, chaired by himself.
“This splitting arrangement plus this vague idea of a working party would create hopeless complications,” she said.
The Greens/EFA group also condemned Barroso's proposals claiming that “Buttiglione would be a commissioner without portfolio”.
“The Greens are making a final appeal for Barroso to make a new proposal if he does not want his commission to be completely weakened," says Daniel Cohn-Bendit MEP.
"Such a commission would hardly survive for the next five years."
Weighing into the debate, chair of parliament’s justice and home affairs committee, French MEP Jean-Louis Bourlanges says, “Barroso is looking to resolve a simple problem in a difficult way.”
Division of Buttiglione’s portfolio shows him a lack of respect and would make him a “down graded commissioner in charge of an amputated portfolio.”
The only solution is to keep intact the justice, freedom and security portfolio and to move Buttiglione to another area, he believes.
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