VARIOUS: EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT DESIGNATE JOSE MANUEL BARROSO DEFLECTS QUESTIONS OVER FATE OF ITALY'S CHOICE FOR COMMISSIONER FOR JUSTICE FREEDOM AND SECURITY
Record ID:
231232
VARIOUS: EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT DESIGNATE JOSE MANUEL BARROSO DEFLECTS QUESTIONS OVER FATE OF ITALY'S CHOICE FOR COMMISSIONER FOR JUSTICE FREEDOM AND SECURITY
- Title: VARIOUS: EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT DESIGNATE JOSE MANUEL BARROSO DEFLECTS QUESTIONS OVER FATE OF ITALY'S CHOICE FOR COMMISSIONER FOR JUSTICE FREEDOM AND SECURITY
- Date: 22nd October 2004
- Summary: (CEEF) WARSAW, POLAND (OCTOBER 20,2004) (REUTERS) 1. SCU SOLDIER OUTSIDE PRIME MINISTERS OFFICE 0.06 2. MV BELKA AND BARROSO SHAKE HANDS AND ENTER CONFERENCE ROOM 0.15 3. MV DELEGATIONS SITTING IN CONFERENCE ROOM/ ZOOM IN SCU BARROSO 0.35 4. CONFERENCE ROOM 0.39 5. SCU MAREK BELKA, POLISH PRIME MINISTER 0.45 6. MV BELKA AND BARROSO ARRIVE FOR NEWS CONFERENCE 0.48 7. NEWS CONFERENCE 0.58 8. SOUNDBITE (English) JOSE MANUEL BARROSO, PRESIDENT DESIGNATE OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION, SAYING: "I do not wish at this stage to comment on individual commissioners. Let me say that I'm very attached to tolerance and respect of all points of view but also fully committed to the principal of non-discrimination on the basis of gender, sexual orientation or religious beliefs. Diversity is not a problem, diversity is an asset of European Union and we should preserve it. My commission will have the protection of fundamental rights and the principal of non-discrimination as one of its top priorities." 1.37 9. SCU CAMERA OPERATOR 1.43 10. SOUNDBITE (English) BARROSO SAYING: "I'm optimistic that the balanced solution will be found and I'm optimistic and confident that my commission will get the support of the Parliament as I got the support of European Parliament when I was confirmed some time ago." 1.59 12. WIDE NEWS CONFERENCE, BELKA AND BARROSO SHAKE HANDS AND LEAVE 2.05 (EU) ROME, ITALY (OCTOBER 20, 2004) (REUTERS) 13. MV ROCCO BUTTIGLIONE, ITALY'S EUROPEAN COMMISSIONER DESIGNATE FOR JUSTICE, FREEDOM AND SECURITY, LEAVING A POLITICAL PARTY MEETING 14. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ROCCO BUTTIGLIONE, ITALY'S EUROPEAN COMMISSIONER DESIGNATE SAYING: "Which language are you speaking? Do you suppose that I speak English? Which reasons have you to make this suppositioN, in this moment whatever I say runs the risk of being misinterpreted." 15. (SOUNDBITE) (English) BUTTIGLIONE ASKED WHY SO, SAYING: "It might depend in part on what we might call ethics of journalism." PUSHING MICROPHONE AWAY 16. BUTTIGLIONE LEAVING 2.51 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 6th November 2004 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: WARSAW, POLAND AND ROME, ITALY
- City:
- Country: Poland Italy
- Reuters ID: LVA9SDR8HK8LLBLSHL2PCE90IBBP
- Story Text: Barroso deflects questions over the fate of Italy's
controversial choice for EU's new commissioner for Justice,
Freedom and Security.
European Commission President designate Jose Manuel
Barroso is doing his best to deflect questions over the
fate of Rocco Buttiglione, Italy's choice as the European
Union's new commissioner for Justice, Freedom and Security.
Following talks with Polish Prime Minister Marek Belka
in Warsaw on Wednesday (October 20, 2004) Barrosso was pounded
with questions from reporters over Buttiglione, who is
believed have conservative Catholic views on homosexuality
and immigration issues.
At a news conference Barosso told reporters "I do not
wish at this stage to comment on individual commissioners.
Let me say that I'm very attached to tolerance and respect
of all points of view but also fully committed to the
principal of non-discrimination on the basis of gender,
sexual orientation or religious beliefs. Diversity is not a
problem, diversity is an asset of European Union and we
should preserve it. My commission will have the protection of
fundamental rights and the principal of
non-discrimination as one of its top priorities."
Socialists in the European Parliament also hardened
their stance on Wednesday, demanding that incoming
Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso remove Rocco
Buttiglione from his post as justice and security chief.
But commission insiders say Barroso is unlikely to bow
to pressure to reshuffle his team but is weighing whether
to strip Buttiglione of responsibility for
non-discrimination and
civil liberties and give personal guarantees on future EU
policy.
Attending a political gathering in Rome on Wednesday, a
clearly strained Buttiglione refused to respond to
journalists questions asking whether he would accept a
diminished portfolio from Barroso.
"Which language are you speaking? Do you suppose that I
speak English?" Buttiglione said in perfect English.
"Which reasons have you to make this supposition, in
this moment whatever I say runs the risk of being
misinterpreted," he said with a strained smile on his face.
Asked why this was the case, Buttiglione, pushing away
the microphone, replied "It might depend in part on what
we might call ethics of journalism."
The 200-member Socialist group, the second largest
force in parliament, has threatened to vote against the
entire team unless Barroso switches Buttigliones portfolio.
The standoff over Buttiglione has taken the EU into
uncharted constitutional territory, since parliament does
not have the power to veto individual commissioners but has
to approve the whole executive in a vote next Wednesday.
Barroso is due to address senior MEPs on Thursday
(October 22) where he will explain how he intends to
respond to various demands made by parliament committees in
letters of evaluation on the hearings of
commissioners-designate, in particular Buttiglione.
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