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The Malta Gay Rights Movement joins the International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA), of which it is an active member, in welcoming incoming European Commission President Barroso's decision on Wednesday to back down on his choice of Commissioners instead of putting the matter to a vote in the European Parliament. Barroso’s decision has clearly restated the European Parliament’s commitment to human rights as a core value of the European Union.
In these last weeks the European branch of ILGA, ILGA-Europe, had actively campaigned to have Barroso re-think the composition of the proposed Commission. The organisation was staunchly against the nomination of Italian politician Rocco Buttiglione as Commissioner for Freedom, Justice and Security. This nomination gave rise to broad protest amongst members of the European Parliament as well as within the EU's civil society.
Buttiglione has a history of making discriminatory remarks about homosexuals, women, immigrants and other minorities. He had submitted an amendment to the Convention on the Future of Europe proposing the deletion of ‘sexual orientation’ from the list of prohibited grounds for discrimination in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. During his assessment hearings in October 2004, Buttiglione enraged many members of the European Parliament by describing homosexuality as a sin and suggesting that the role of a woman was to have children and be protected by her husband. He also stated that he would be guided by his moral values rather than securing some of the human rights standards of the European Union.
Following Barroso’s decision, Jackie Lewis, co-chair of ILGA-Europe, said: “The Parliament has confirmed that rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are an integral part of human rights in the EU. It has also clearly demonstrated that it is inappropriate for Commissaires to openly state that their moral values will prevail over their public duty.”
Sasha Azzopardi
Media officer, MGRM
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