By Elinor Blair - 4th October 2004
The EU's new justice chief Rocco Buttiglione has faced MEPs in a heated debate over his suitability to protect the freedoms and rights of Europe’s citizens.
The commissioner designate for justice, freedom and security fielded questions from the wide range of issues in his brief at a hearing dominated by politicians squabbling over speaking time.
The former philosophy professor and Italian Europe minister was interrogated on his views on immigration, data protection, sexual orientation, minority rights and border controls.
The Italian told MEPs he wanted to, “change illegal immigration to legal immigration” and that as well as providing greater security for the people of Europe, he wanted “to enlarge the space of freedoms”.
As regards trans-atlantic relations, Buttiglione told MEPs that, “we have to be prepared to work with the US as future partners…for the future of humanity.”
“We are brothers with the Americans…but we are not twin brothers.”
MEPs also questioned Buttiglione on his position on upholding minority rights within the EU.
“I am deeply concerned about the problem of minorities,” he told the hearing. Europeans have the right to their own culture and, “each human being has the right to speak his own language,” he told listeners.
“Some member states are not willing to make the transition from individual rights to community rights,” he said.
After the hearing, socialist MEPs remained doubtful about his ability to meet the challenges of his portfolio.
Hannes Swoboda MEP pointed to the contradiction between Buttiglione’s recent actions and his words in the hearing.
“On sexual orientation, he said he was in favour of non-discrimination but in the discussions on the charter of fundamental rights he brought forward an amendment which would openly discriminate against gay people.”
But right wing MEP Ewa Klamt defended the Italian arguing that, “European home affairs, asylum and immigration policy will be in good hands with Rocco Buttiglione in the future."
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