WITHDRAWN PROPOSAL VICTORY FOR GREEN MEPS

JEAN Lambert, Green MEP for London, has described the last-minute decision by European Commission president, Jose Manuel Barroso, to withdraw from a vote as a victory for Green MEPs and the European parliament as a whole.

The move comes after a Green MEPs made clear their concerns about Dr Rocco Buttiglione's suitability for the post of Vice President and European Commissioner for Freedom, Security and Justice. This was in addition to concerns over the suitability four other commissioners.

Mrs Lambert said today; "Mr Barroso's climbdown graphically illustrates the strength of feeling on this issue. Dr Buttiglione has made discriminatory remarks about women, homosexuals, immigrants, single mothers and others."

"However it is not just about Dr Buttiglione. We have grave concerns about the suitability of four of the other commissioners for their posts and we will be looking for a radical rethink across the whole team. There are real doubts over the future independence of Dutch businesswoman Neelie Kroes proposed for the post of competition commissioner. Laszlo Kovacs is also clearly under skilled for the post of European Commissioner for energy and Ingrida Udre needs to provide more details about past allegations of financial irregularities before we are satisfied of her suitability."

Mrs Lambert, with other Green MEPs, is now calling for the EU to adopt a different approach. Currently the process is left entirely to the discretion of each Member State to propose 'its' Commissioner. Leaving the President of the Commission responsible only for distributing the different portfolios amongst the individuals proposed. The role of the European Parliament is confined to saying yes or no to the entire Commission.

She added; "What we need is for each Member State to put forward three personalities drawn from both sexes for 'its' Commissioner's post, and for the President of the Commission to choose the most appropriate one. This would effectively ensure that we are never again faced with this invidious choice."

ENDS

For more information please contact Alex Rowe on 020 7407 6280 or at alexrowe@greenmeps.org.uk