EU COMMISSION: Italy's new nominee for the European Commission, Mr Franco Frattini, has told MEPs that, if he becomes Justice and Home Affairs Commissioner, that he will fight corruption and work towards a common European asylum policy, writes Denis Staunton in Strasbourg.
At a hearing before the European Parliament's Civil Liberties Committee in Strasbourg last night, Mr Frattini avoided questions about his role in drafting laws that offered protection to Italy's prime minister, Mr Silvio Berlusconi, over alleged conflicts of interest.
"I should not be the defence counsel for the legal system of any country, including my own. I don't think I can be expected to express condemnation or disapproval of any individual," he said.
Mr Frattini denied Italian media reports that he is a Freemason, a claim that was repeated by Mr Rocco Buttiglione, who withdrew as Italy's Commissioner-designate last month.
"I am not a mason. That's all," Mr Frattini said.
A majority on the Civil Liberties Committee rejected Mr Buttiglione after he described homosexuality as sinful, and said that the purpose of marriage was to allow women to bring up children under the protection of a man.
Mr Frattini adopted a more moderate tone, suggesting that gay couples whose partnerships are recognised by European member-states could benefit from EU rules on the free movement of people. In contrast to Mr Buttiglione, Mr Frattini said he advocated a "pro-active" approach to equality issues and welcomed the establishment of a new Commission working group to combat discrimination.
He said that he opposed the creation of camps for asylum seekers outside the EU, a policy the Italian government has promoted and called for a measured response to violent attacks by Muslim extremists. "Intolerance and violence by extremists of any kind cannot be fought by more violence," he said.
The incoming Commission President, Mr Jose Manuel Barroso, withdrew his entire Commission from consideration by MEPs last month when it became clear that he could not command a majority. Italy and Latvia nominated new commissioners and Mr Barroso has moved the Hungarian nominee, Mr Laszlo Kovacs, from the Energy portfolio to Taxation.
Some conservative MEPs have threatened to vote against the new Commission in protest against Hungary's failure to withdraw Mr Kovacs, a Socialist and former communist. Most observers predicted last night, however, that Mr Barroso's commission would win majority support on Thursday, enabling it to take office on Monday.