EP publishes rules of procedure for Tonio Borg’s grilling

The European Parliament today published the rules of procedure to the forthcoming hearing of Tonio Borg, who has been nominated as the commissioner-designate to replace John Dalli.

Dalli resigned as European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection on Tuesday 16 October. On Saturday 20 October, Borg's nomination became official. A few days later, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso accepted the foreign minister's nomination.

Borg's grilling by MEPs on the European Parliament's health committee is set for 13 November, most likely to be followed by a vote of full parliament the following week.

According to the EP's rule of procedure, Borg must be evaluated on the basis of his general competence, European commitment and personal independence. He will also be assessed on his knowledge of health and consumer affairs and communication skills.

According to procedure, the Committees involved in the hearing will submit written questions to Borg in good time before the hearings.

He will be faced by two common questions drafted by the Conference of Committee Chairs, the first relating to the issues of general competence, European commitment and personal independence, and the second relating to the management of the portfolio and cooperation with Parliament. 

Borg will be invited to make an opening oral statement of no longer than 15 minutes.

According to procedure, the conduct of the hearings should aim to develop a pluralistic political dialogue between the Borg and the Members.

Before the end of the hearing, Borg would then be given the opportunity to make a brief closing statement.

The hearings will be transmitted live.

The Chair and coordinators are then expected to meet without delay after the hearing to evaluate. These meetings shall be held in camera. Then the coordinators will be invited to state whether, in their opinion, Borg qualified both to be member of the College and to carry out the duty he has been assigned.

In case that the coordinators would be unable to reach a consensus on the evaluation, or at the request of one political group, the Chair would then convene a full committee meeting.

As a last resort, the Chair would also put the two decisions - first decision on whether Borg is qualified to be member of the college and second decision as to whether he is qualified for the particular duties - to the vote by secret ballot.

The Committees' statements of evaluation would then be adopted and made public within 24 hours after the hearing.

The plenary - probably to take place either on 20 or 21 November - shall vote on whether or not to give its consent to Borg's appointment. Parliament shall decide by a majority of the votes cast and by secret ballot.

Early indications are that there will be no discussion at the plenary before the vote.

It is expected that Borg will also be heavily grilled over his conservative views. Political blocs represented in the European Parliament have already made it clear that they look forward to Borg's grilling. The European Greens have declared they will not support Borg's nomination and the Liberals are understood to share similar reservations.

The president of the European Socialists Hannes Swodoba said that the European Parliament "did not need a second Rocco Buttiglione".

Borg is currently on semi-official study leave to prepare for the grilling.