Borrell: Rocco rejection takes EU into ‘virgin’ territory

MEPs have warned José Manuel Barroso that he should listen to concerns over his new team – but the European Parliament did not suggest a reshuffle.

Parliament president Josep Borrell told journalists that after a meeting of senior MEPs a file on each commissioner-designate had been sent to Barroso.

“We didn’t go into any alternatives,” he said. “There are no concrete questions being put, we are just setting out what has happened and asking him to respond.”

MEPs are set to vote on the new European Commission on October 27 and concerns over appointees have been raised following two weeks of parliament hearings.

Putting the pressure on Barroso to rethink, and in a historical first, MEPs rejected EU commissioner-designate for justice Rocco Buttiglione.

But the Italian’s controversial views on women, gays, immigrants and the family were not debated by parliament political bosses ahead of a face-to-face meeting with Barroso on October 21.

“There was not a discussion on any alternative relating to the case of Mr Buttiglione,” said Borrell

Borrell cautioned Barroso against ignoring the parliament’s views on the commission – opinions on individual EU executives such as Buttiglione are non-binding.

MEPs have been stung by comments made by Barroso and his press officers that talk of a reshuffle was “pointless speculation”.

 “There was clear unanimity … in the view that what Mr Barroso and his spokesman have said about what his role should be vis a vis the parliament’s role… were not taken very well.”

“Mr Barroso has been reminded by the parliament of the role he actually has,” Borrell said.

“I am sure Mr Barroso will take the results of the hearings into consideration.”

Monday’s vote by MEPs on the parliament’s justice committee to reject Buttiglione takes the EU into uncharted waters.

“People thought [the hearings] were just a formality, just a rubber stamp but that is not the case.”

“The process isn’t over yet. Something new has happened. It is the first time we’ve seen a committee explicitly voting to reject a commissioner designate,” Borrell told journalists.

“That has not happened before and I don’t know if anyone expected it to happen this time. It is certainly something new, which means the parliament and commission are on some virgin political ground.”

Some MEPs are threatening to sack Barroso’s commission en masse if Buttiglone is not removed from the justice job.

Liberal MEP Chris Davies is urging colleagues to set a precedent upholding parliamentary scrutiny of the EU executive.

“We have to insist that the views of the elected parliament take precedence over those of the appointed commission.”

“The ball is in Barroso's court. We don't want blood but we do require that our position is respected,” he said.

“If he wants to put his head in the sand and suppose that he can ignore the parliament he should not be surprised if MEPs vote down the entire commission.”

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