Socialist MEPs give cautious welcome to new EU transport chief

Socialist group vice president Jan Marinus Wiersma has given a guarded welcome to new European commissioner designate for transport Antonio Tajani, saying he hopes the former Italian MEP will be "collegiate" in his work.

“Knowing him to be a former spokesman of Silvio Berlusconi, we will want to know that he is collegiate in his work in the commission and that he fully respects the commission’s policy on such issues as civil rights and minority rights,” he said in a press release on Tuesday.

Tajani’s suitability for the post has been questioned because as transport commissioner, he will be heading up the EU’s inquiry into the Italian government’s €300m bailout of failing national air carrier Alitalia in April.

Brussels last week launched an “in-depth investigation” into the payout to see if it complies with EU rules on state aid. According to the commission, Alitalia had already benefited from “rescue and restructuring aid”, the government can’t – in principle – offer any more.

Tajani has said that he will maintain his neutrality in leading the investigation into the payment, a move that was welcomed by another Socialist vice president, Hannes Swoboda.

Willi Piecyk, the group’s coordinator on the transport committee, also said that his concerns had been assuaged, and applauded the fact that Tajani appears willing to work closely with the parliament.

“I formed the impression that Tajani will strive hard to work as a European and not take orders from his national capital. He seemed to be particularly ready to cooperate with the European parliament in policy development.”

MEPs will vote in plenary on the appointment of the former journalist on Wednesday. Tajani’s first moves as commissioner, he says, will be to present a communication on transport fuel for fisheries, which has been the topic of several violent demonstrations across Europe recently, and an initiative on the single European sky on 25 June.

Meanwhile, three parliamentary committees on Monday – civil liberties, legal affairs and women’s rights – praised outgoing transport chief Jacques Barrot’s work so far, and heard his bid for the justice job.

“Jacques Barrot revealed himself very competent as commissioner in charge of transport. He demonstrated great political courage in obtaining the adoption by the EU of a blacklist of air companies that didn’t respect security rules,” said Wiersma.

Barrot, who has been acting justice commissioner since the resignation of Franco Frattini in May, is also due to see his appointment voted in plenary on Wednesday.

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