Europarlementariers willen dat nieuwe EU-commissaris voor Justitie, Vrijheid en Veiligheid meer gericht is op burgerlijke vrijheden en privacy (en) - Hoofdinhoud
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Members of the European parliament's civil liberties committee have indicated they are preparing a tough hearing for the new Italian EU commissioner, and have so far offered only a lukewarm reaction to the names currently being touted for the heavy-weight justice and home affairs post.
Liberal Dutch MEP Sophia in 't Veld i said the committee is looking for someone to "seriously drive forward the human rights agenda."
In a critique of Franco Frattini i - the out-going commissioner now expected to become Italy's new foreign minister following the recent elections - she said the new appointee should be "much more sensitive to issues of civil liberties and privacy."
UK Liberal MEP Sarah Ludford said the issue was not a question of "political complexion ... It is about qualities and suitability."
She described the portfolio, which has seen Mr Frattini deal with a wide range of anti-terror legislation - often putting him in direct conflict with MEPs, as a "very, very challenging area."
Her committee faces a "constant stream of legislation that challenges civil rights," she noted.
The civil liberties committee is the same committee that in 2004 caused the upset in the power balance between member states and MEPs after its hearing exposed the discriminatory views of Rocco Buttiglione i, Italy's original nominee, towards gays and women.
Italy eventually substituted Mr Buttiglione with Mr Frattini.
Ms in 't Veld noted that the same issues over which Mr Buttiglione "stumbled" will make an appearance this time round.
MEPs do not have the power to veto a single commissioner, but a negative vote from the EU assembly would be very difficult for EU commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso i to dismiss.
He initially ignored the rumblings of the parliament in 2004, hoping to hustle through the process with Mr Buttiglione on board the team, but was eventually forced into a humiliating retreat.
However, the names currently having been floated as possible contenders - the centre-right MEPs Mario Mauro and Antonio Tajani i, both from the newly re-elected Silvio Berlusconi i 's former party, Forza Italia - did not gather much enthusiasm from the two Liberal politicians.
Ms Ludford took the trouble to point out that Mr Tajani has not been in charge of a particular dossier (report) at the parliament for "the 14 years he's been here" but both she and Ms int 'Veld stressed they did not know either politician very well.
The civil liberties committee will hold a hearing for the new commissioner before the plenary as a whole takes a vote on the nomination.
Among the questions likely to come up are the commissioner's views on the rights of homosexuals, the role of women in society, the protection of civil rights in the era of the "War on Terror". There could also be queries arising from Mr Berlusconi's regular controversial off-the-cuff statements, such as his recent comment suggesting camps for jobless foreigners be set up.