BARROSO THROWS PARLIAMENT SCRAPS BUT IGNORES REAL ISSUE
JEAN Lambert, Green MEP for London, has criticised the EU President, Portugal’s José Manuel Barroso, for failing to respond to the wave of criticism surrounding the controversial proposal of Dr Rocco Buttiglione as Vice President and European Commissioner for Freedom, Security and Justice.
Mrs Lambert said today; “His promises on new Directives on anti-discrimination are welcome but no substitute for a Commissioner we can trust. If the president of the Commission has to do much of the job of a Commissioner, what does this say? Is he going to get a proportion of Buttiglione's salary? Why keep a dog and bark yourself? Mr. Barroso has given Parliament a few scraps but has not responded to the substance of our criticisms.”
Mrs Lambert’s comments come as Catholics for Free Choice released a new dossier detailing Dr Buttiglione’s views and actions. These include discriminatory remarks about women, homosexuals, immigrants and others. “Dr Buttiglione has described homosexuality as sin. He thinks that the role of a woman is to stay at home, have children and be protected by her husband. He supports camps for asylum seekers and quotas for immigration into Europe. He has an agenda and that agenda is to promote the cause of conservative Catholicism at every opportunity. He is not fit for the role of Commissioner for Freedom, Security and Justice."
The vote to approve or oppose Dr Buttiglione’s appointment is expected tomorrow (October 27 2004). The Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affair’s vote to oppose Dr Buttiglione’s nomination is the first time that a parliamentary committee has rejected a nominee Commissioner.
ENDS
For more information please contact Alex Rowe on 020 7407 6280 or at alexrowe@greenmeps.org.uk