Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2004-10-26-Speech-2-102"

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"en.20041026.7.2-102"2
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"Mr President, we all know that the Commission is made up of a President and 24 Commissioners, from different political backgrounds and with different personal beliefs, yet it has the legitimacy of having been proposed by democratically-elected governments. It therefore comes as no surprise that each of us appraises each of these Commissioners differently. That appraisal cannot, however, be based on their personal convictions or religious beliefs. If this were one day the case, this House would no longer be a Parliament but a court of opinion with a morbid taste for censure. Our appraisal must be based on the Commissioners’ skills, and at this point one should remember that in the hearings an 80% majority was in favour. At this time, what we must do is decide how Parliament will behave towards a Commission led by a strong President with a clear mission to ensure that the European project and the balance between the Member States will be safeguarded. We have seen in this debate that President Barroso was attentive to what the Members of this House were saying, and acted accordingly. He has made commitments to this House, not least in the area of non-discrimination, and has received a letter from each of the Commissioners, and this makes him worthy of Parliament’s confidence. What remains to be seen is whether Parliament is attentive to President Barroso’s message and also acts accordingly. It is understandable to vote against a Commission if one is not 100% in agreement with it. It is not understandable to vote against a Commission of 25 people if one disagrees with the religious beliefs of one of its members; that is intolerant. Mr Buttiglione was sincere when he expressed his beliefs, and I believe that he was sincere when he said that he would not mix his personal beliefs with his duties. Ladies and gentlemen, we must judge the Commission and its Commissioners by their acts. Consequently, to put a Commission in an untenable position before it has taken up its duties, due to the religious beliefs of one of its members, is tantamount to prejudice. We will be carrying out our duties responsibly, however, if we assess it during the course of its mandate. Lastly, Mr President of the Commission, I do not know how tomorrow’s vote will go, but, coming from Portugal, I can tell you that you can count on our vote, and I hope that the Commission is not rejected because of 12 votes from the Portuguese left of this House."@en1

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