By Bruno Waterfield, updated at 14.30 - 20th October 2004
There will be no reshuffle of the EU executive line-up, José Manuel Barroso has told MEPs.
The incoming Brussels chief has come under pressure from the European Parliament to move or ditch new EU justice commissioner Rocco Buttiglione.
Buttiglione has outraged MEPs with unapologetic, conventional Catholic views on gays, women and the family.
But in a crisis meeting with parliament's political leaders the European Commission president insisted he would not change his team.
To soothe MEPs Barroso has pledged to set up and chair a high-powered cross-departmental working group on human rights.
And he thanked the parliament for its contribution to his decision to set-up an EU rights taskforce.
“I with this new group will provide the political impulse to ensure we act sufficiently strongly,” the commission chief said.
“We will also validate any proposed commission action on fundamental rights and non-discrimination before it is taken.”
Communications, social affairs, external relations and development commissioners will join Barroso, and Buttiglione, to raise the human rights banner across EU policy-making.
Barroso will win, says Barroso
The former Portuguese leader is predicting a parliament majority for his commission as a collective institution during a vote on October 27.
“I am convinced we will have majority in the parliament here, absolutely convinced… because it would really be very strange if we did not get this majority,” he said.
“I think the arguments I have put forward this morning are very strong, very powerful, everyone can understand them.”
"The parliament is not going to vote for one or two commissioners. They are going to vote for the whole commission."
The commission president reminded MEPs that all EU executive decison-making was by the full 'college' collective of 25 commissioners - not by one individual on one policy area.
“What matters is that when the commission takes a decision the policy will be decided upon by the full college under my leadership. And that policy will be followed and supported by all,” he said.
Barroso's executive more equal than others
Expressing some anger, Barroso reminded the parliament that he had listened to requests from MEPs to include more women in his line-up.
“There has never been a commission before with eight women, never... we have it because I insisted with some of the governments to send me good competent women," he said.
“In matters of gender, in matters of non-discrimination about sexual orientation, this commission really stands at the highest standards possible.”
"In terms of women's rights, in terms of women's opportunties, in terms of women acquiring political responsibility my commission is the most progressive so far."
Barroso also revealed that the outgoing centre-left justice commissioner Antonio Vitorino had recommended Buttiglione as his replacement.
“I wanted to listen to the present commissioner’s view, that’s Mr Vitorino, a secular, Portuguese Socialist. And he said I should take Mr Buttiglione as commissioner for justice after looking at his CV,” he said.
Sorry Buttiglione
Ahead of Barroso’s Thursday meeting, Buttiglione apologised for the offence – and difficulty – his comments caused.
“I deeply regret the difficulties and problems that have arisen as a result of my hearing,” he said.
"I did not intend in any way to offend the feelings of anybody and in particular of women and homosexuals."
In a letter to Barroso, the Italian commissioner-designate admits that he should not have described homosexuality as a sin - without saying sorry for holding the view.
"Words do emotionally charged as sin should perhaps not be introduced in the political debate," he wrote.
Buttiglione has assured Barroso that he does not expect a conflict between his moral outlook and political post.
But the outspoken Italian, with close links to the Vatican, left the door open for resignation should he be pushed too far.
"The only thing I can not do is to change my principles against my conscience for a political convenience," he said.
Barroso may lose, says Borrell
Responding to Barroso, Socialist, Green and Liberal parliament leaders maintained opposition, the parliament's president Josep Borrell told journalists.
“The Liberals demanded that Mr Buttiglione resign in order to make it easier for this situation to be put behind us,” he said.
“The Socialist group were very critical but have put off any final decision until after a group meeting.”
Parliament’s biggest centre-right bloc of MEPs back Barroso but lack a clear majority, and with Socialist and Liberals leading smaller green and left groups a vote could be too close to call.
Borrell agreed that a negative parliament vote blocking Barroso’s commission could be a “worrying situation” but stressed “everyone is aware though that this is what democracy is all about”.
“I can’t predict what the result of the vote will be, because two big groups [the Socialists and Liberals], I think I can say, were highly critical,” he said.
"They didn't say they were going to vote against although it is entirely possible that might happen."
Rocco reject?
Buttiglione’s traditional opinions on the role of women in the home or his belief that homosexuality is a sin have sparked an inter-institutional row.
MEPs have argued that the Italian’s politics rule him out of a brief that upholds anti-discrimination measures enshrined in the EU’s Charter of Fundamental Rights.
The new Brussels chief also promised MEPs he would take account of criticisms directed at other commissioners.
Hungarian energy chief Laszlo Kovacs, Dutch competition watchdog Neelie Kroes, Latvian taxation chief Ingrida Udre, and Danish agriculture commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel have all been criticised.
The line-up of the new executive is the prerogative of Barroso, not the parliament, and the former Portuguese leader is reluctant to set a precedent by climbing down to MEPs.
MEPs – while voting, on October 27, for the commission as a collective institution – have no powers over the policy portfolios of individual EU executives.
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