By Elinor Blair - 10th October 2004
MEPs are set to ask new European Commission President José Manuel Barroso to reshuffle his EU executive.
Five commissioners-designate are likely to come under fire from MEPs when the incoming Brussels chief meets European Parliament President Josep Borrell on October 21.
EU justice chief Rocco Buttiglione has triggered the most negative response with his conservative views on gays, women and immigrants.
And the outspoken Italian will be asked by MEPs to step aside from the EU growing justice portfolio.
In response to his views, the parliament has drafted a letter asking that Buttiglione be given another job within the commission.
The letter which will be voted on by the justice, freedom and security committee notes that Buttiglione’s moral and political views, “offered no guarantee that he would fight as actively as parliament wishes against sexual discrimination”.
At his hearing in the European Parliament last week, Buttiglione a staunch catholic and close friend of the Pope argued that he could separate his moral views from his legal positions.
“I may think that homosexuality is a sin but this has no effect on politics, unless I say that homosexuality is a crime,” he said.
But quizzed on how his religious beliefs would affect his politics, he later said that:“I am ready to seek dialogue, which is normal in a democracy, but if a proposal is contrary to my moral principles I would oppose it.”
In retaliation, the Italian has argued that he is the victim of euro political correctness and anti-Catholic discrimination.
“For those who boast of being the representatives of the culture of non-discrimination, this seems to me to be a real case of political and ideological discrimination,” he said.
The parliament has the job of approving all the commissioners but cannot call for the removal of an individual commissioner from his or her post.
It can however request a commissioner-designate be moved to a different portfolio.
Also under the spotlight are four of Buttiglione’s colleagues.
Neelie Kroes, Europe’s designated competition watchdog, has come under fire for her extensive business past and lack of knowledge on competition issues.
Energy commissioner the Hungarian László Kovács, Latvian taxation chief Ingrida Udre and Danish agriculture commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel have also been criticised.
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