Duff calls on Barroso to take heed of Parliament's concerns of appointment of Italian Commissioner to key portfolio

1.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 12th Oct 2004

Duff calls on Barroso to take heed of Parliament's concerns of appointment of Italian Commissioner to key portfolio

Andrew Duff has called on the President-elect of the European Commission to take heed of the vote by the European Parliament to reject the appointment of the Italian Nominee as the Commissioner for Justice, Freedom and Security, Rocco Buttiglione because of his views on homosexuality and the role of women in society.

Mr Duff said 'President-elect of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso should pay great heed to what the European Parliament is saying, not only about Mr Buttiglione but about numerous other candidates who displayed lamentable weakness at the oral hearings of the European Parliament. It is unfair to have to single out Mr Buttiglione because his 'general competence' the Treaty criterion for membership of the Commission is higher than many of his prospective colleagues.'

'However, politics can be unfair. Mr Buttiglione's moral strength is impressive but he showed himself to be, wilfully or not, politically maladroit.'

'Mr Barroso should submit himself to questioning by the Conference of Presidents, open to all members, next week. He would be wise to re-jig some of his portfolios, including that of Mr Buttiglione. By doing so, he would not only win the wholehearted backing of the European Parliament, but also reinforce his leverage against his old mates in the European Council.'

'The audition process is far from perfect, and there are many improvements to be made to it in the future. But it has been legitimate and there are political consequences. If Mr Barroso ignores them he risks the collapse of his Commission.'

ends