Brussels-based newspaper flags Vella’s ‘vulnerable’ nomination

Brussels-based newspaper European Voice has flagged Commissioner-designate Karmenu Vella’s “vulnerable” position due to his “political history in Malta” and the “discontent” over the portfolio he was assigned to.

Vella, nominated by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and assigned the environment, fisheries and maritime affairs portfolio by the Commission President-elect, may expect a tough grilling next Monday, 29 September, at the hands of MEPs.

The grilling is given to prospective Commissioners by MEPs, and Vella will be opening the sessions.

Already there are indications of unrest associated with Commission president Jean-Claude Junker’s choice of commissioner to handle the environment, fisheries and maritime affairs portfolio.

NGOs have expressed concern at an apparent ‘downgrade’ of the environment (previously a standalone portfolio) as a key area of European policy. Questions have also been raised – among others, by BirdLife Europe – regarding the suitability of Vella himself for the post, given his government’s track record in the area of wildlife protection.

Malta is not new to the Fisheries portfolio, having already been assigned the portfolio between 2004 and 2010, under the then European Commissioner Joe Borg.
It is, however, new to the environment portfolio that will see Vella also responsible for, amongst others, the EU's Birds Directive, which outlaws hunting in spring and trapping.

Among other priorities, Vella is now expected "to carry out an in-depth evaluation of the Birds and Habitats directives and assess the potential for merging them into a more modern piece of legislation”.
Malta is currently the only EU member state to have a recreational spring hunting season thanks to a derogation from the Birds Directive, which normally protects migratory birds from being hunted during this crucial stage of their life cycle.

The European Voice, founded by The Economist Group, reports that Juncker’s request for an in-depth evaluation “is particularly sensitive because Malta has been in repeated and continued violation of these laws because of bird hunting”.

Coincidentally, the hunting ban announced by Muscat precedes Vella’s forthcoming grilling. MaltaToday on Sunday reported that the massacre of protected birds in Malta would embarrass the Maltese nominee and rekindle attention about Malta’s appalling record of illegal hunting of protected species.

The newspaper also goes a step further in highlighting why Vella may be in “a vulnerable” position on Monday: “his political past”.

“Vella may also face questions about his time as part of the Labour government of Dom Mintoff in the 1980s – a time of political turmoil in Malta. There have been allegations in the Maltese press against Vella over the years of political thuggery, tax evasion and corruption. None of these allegations has been proven but Vella will probably face a few questions. In part, these allegations are the product of Malta’s brand of intensely tribal politics, but faith in Malta has been damaged by the loss from the last college of commissioners of John Dalli, the Maltese commissioner forced to resign during the last term over allegations of corruption,” The European Voice reports.

On the other hand, the newspaper argues that Vella’s advantage is that Malta belongs to the S&D group, and both the EPP and the S&D are not expected “to pursue an aggressive line of questioning”.

Vella’s hearing will take place in the specific committees associated with his portfolio. Environment, fisheries and maritime policy are dealt with in two separate committees: environment by the ENVI commission; fisheries and maritime affairs by PECH. So the two committees will have to be brought together for a joint sitting.