Justice Commissioner's appointment in balance
22 Oct 04
EU Commission President tries to avert civil liberties clash
The row over the apppointment of a conservative Italian Roman Catholic as EU Justice and Home Affairs Commissioner may be settled by compromise.
Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso has offered to oversee personally EU policies on discrimination and civil liberties to avoid any conflict of interests on the part of Rocco Buttiglione. MEPs objected to Signor Buttiglione's appointment after he admitted his personal beliefs that homosexuality is a sin and the primary role of women was to have children and be looked after by their husbands.
Whether Senor Barroso's offer will satisfy the MEPs will be seen next week when they vote whether to accept the 25-strong team. The centre-left has threatened to reject the whole team rather than see Signor Buttiglione take up his post.