ALDE backs Barroso Commission but calls for stronger Parliamentary checks on individual Commissioners

3.13.17pm GMT Wed 17th Nov 2004

In a debate with José Manuel Durao Barroso in the European Parliament today, ALDE leader Graham Watson (Liberal Democrat, UK) threw the weight of his group behind the new Commission of the President elect. Mr Watson said that following the successful hearings of three new or reshuffled Commissioners the overwhelming majority of Liberals and Democrats would back "an agreement on this Commission that respects the Parliament's complaint". However, Mr Watson said that the new Commission President should act to make it possible for the Parliament to censure individual Commissioners without putting the whole Commission at risk, saying that the current political arrangement "offers only the possibility of destroying the Commission's town in order to save it".

Mr Watson told Mr Barroso:

"On balance, Liberals and Democrats were satisfied with the performance of the new and reshuffled Commissioners. Mr Frattini was soft on specifics but sharp in general. He has the capacity to be an impressive Commissioner for Justice and Home Affairs, although he may need to disown much of the record of his patron in Rome."

Referring to Rocco Buttiglione, Mr Watson argued that the Parliament had been "forced to judge this college by its weakest link". "That link has been replaced and today we acknowledge the strengths - a college with real talents and deep reserves of competence" he continued.

Mr Watson was strongly critical of a hearings process that restricts the European Parliament to a choice between "cosmetic" assessments and the "crisis" of rejecting the whole Commission. "The Parliament is asked to do the work of scrutinising the Commission, but given only the bluntest tools for doing so" he said. Mr Watson argued that the new Commission President had to provide assurances that his Commission would function on the principle of individual responsibility of Commissioners. He told Mr Barroso:

"We expect that if during your term the Parliament withdraws its confidence from any of your Commissioners, you will come before this House to address the failing. You will either defend that Commissioner on your personal authority or you will ask for a resignation. In July you wrote the principle of individual responsibility of Commissioners into your speeches: well, today we want that promise in stone."