Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2004-10-26-Speech-2-018"
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"en.20041026.5.2-018"2
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"All the men and women in this Commission have attended hearings in the parliamentary committees. This procedure, which has no parallel in the Member States, is an example of democracy in action at the heart of the European institutions. Your hearings have revealed a broad consensus between Parliament and the future Commission. In the vast majority of cases, Parliament's verdict has been positive. In a few cases Parliament has identified weaknesses and asked for a response from me.
I have already told the Conference of Presidents – and I confirm this today to you – that I intend to create a group of Commissioners responsible for fundamental rights, anti-discrimination and equal opportunities. This group, which I will chair, will monitor all Commission action and measure initiatives in these areas. It will also act as the political driving force. This group will not be a talking shop. It will ensure that the action by the Commission in promoting fundamental rights and fighting against all forms of discrimination is cohesive. It is my intention to set an ambitious agenda for this group. I will be ready to discuss it with you and to ask for your suggestions. Already I can announce that I will make use of the results of a public consultation aimed at facilitating the creation of a European fundamental rights agency, which will take as its starting point the current Monitoring Centre for Racism and Xenophobia in Vienna. I will await Parliament's contribution before presenting a legislative proposal on this matter.
I also intend to initiate work with a view to a framework directive on the basis of Article 13 of the European Community Treaty, which will replace the directives adopted in 2000 and extend them to all forms of discrimination. Currently, these directives have a limited scope. With the framework directive, Community action will cover all areas of discrimination, including discrimination on the grounds of gender or sexual orientation. With this initiative, I am simply confirming even more clearly what has, from the very beginning, been one of the features of this Commission: that its very composition, with eight women in the college, affirms its determination to combat discrimination.
Lastly, I intend to launch a programme and an action plan to combat discrimination with particular reference to all forms of anti-Semitism, racism and xenophobia. In this connection the future Commission will commit itself to relaunching negotiations on a framework decision on racism and xenophobia, which has been blocked in the Council for far too long.
All these initiatives, and others that might be considered by the group of Commissioners or suggested by you, will be prepared under my authority. I am prepared to present them to you in person when the time comes – not just in plenary but, if necessary, in the relevant committee.
Let me make it very clear that I will personally assume full control of our action in the fight against discrimination and the promotion of fundamental rights. So, as you see, I have listened carefully to Parliament's opinion. I have taken into consideration your major concerns and objections and have provided substantive replies. Some of you would have liked a more radical response and a reorganisation of the team, but is that a real option at this stage? All the information I have, after careful consideration and extensive consultation, makes me think that changing the portfolios at this stage of the procedure would cause more political and interinstitutional problems than it would solve. We should bear in mind that this process involves not only the President-designate and Parliament but also the Council, as a third and very relevant partner.
My team may not be considered perfect by all of you, but is there any team in any of our national governments that we can consider perfect? However, it is recognised by many to be, on the whole, a very strong and balanced team. I am convinced that we can do our job in the service of Europe and its citizens, under the political monitoring of this Parliament.
It was a great honour for me to receive your support and confidence in July by a very large majority. I ask you now to support the solution I am proposing, as it is you who best serve the interests of the European Union at this point. You will be able to judge the President and all the Members of the Commission later in the light of their actions and not just their words.
At the Conference of Presidents last week, I gave my reactions to the letters from the parliamentary committees. Today I wish to clarify my position on the most important points, without going into details of the undertakings I have already given, and provide you with the additional steps I am ready to take.
In a specific case of a potential conflict of interest, I gave the strongest possible guarantees that the Commission's work in the field of competition policy will not be affected. These guarantees are based on rules and procedures that are a matter of public record. The Commission will always carry out its responsibilities in the area of competition impartially, independently, transparently and with assiduity and expertise.
Some doubts have been expressed about the mastery of the details of certain complex and technical portfolios, such as energy. I can assure you that I have absolute confidence in the political skills of the Commissioners-designate and their ability to absorb and defend their brief, however technical.
In the case of the criticism levelled against one Commissioner-designate, relating to her former political career, I would remind you that this concerns allegations which can be dealt with under existing national control procedures, including judicial investigation. At this point, no accusations have been made against this Commissioner-designate and she therefore retains my confidence.
I expect all Members of the Commission to meet the highest ethical standards and to comply fully with the Code of Conduct. Let me say once again that I intend to use all the powers that the Treaty confers on me to ensure that this is indeed the case. I will not hesitate to demand the resignation of any Member of the Commission who is manifestly not up to the job or who fails in the duties imposed upon him or her by the Treaty. This also holds for cases brought up by Parliament, which I will actively consider before taking a final decision.
All the Members of the Commission have undertaken to tender their resignation if I ask for it. Obviously this also applies to any possibility of a reshuffle during the mandate of the next Commission. Once the Commission is approved by this Parliament, I will have the power to make the adjustments I may deem necessary.
The verdict on Mr Buttiglione's performance at one of the hearings he attended was positive, and at another hearing it was negative. Following this hearing, I asked him for a clear explanation of his position. He replied in writing, expressing his regret and reaffirming his commitment to the principle of non-discrimination. I, for my part, would never accept anyone in my Commission who defends positions that are not compatible with the Charter of Fundamental Rights. I am sure that Mr Buttiglione will fully comply with the Treaty and the Charter and I can confirm that the rest of the Commissioners-designate share my view.
However, one good thing will have come out of this unfortunate incident: it has highlighted the importance we attach to decisive political action by the European Union in the fight against all forms of discrimination. For this I must thank Parliament. This debate enables us to move from words to substance, and about substance no doubts are allowed. This Commission will give civil rights and anti-discrimination policy top priority."@en1
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