PM 'disappointed' over Buttiglione issue

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi yesterday expressed his disappointment at the way the Buttiglione issue was tackled by some quarters in the European Parliament last week.

Dr Gonzi yesterday attended a four-hour meeting of leaders in the European Peoples Party at the Castle of Bouchout in the Belgian village of Maise. The 'summit' served as a pre-discussion to the EU Summit starting later in the day in Brussels.

Asked for his comments on the issue of Rocco Buttiglione, Italy's European Commissioner designate who was withdrawn after being rejected by a parliamentary committee, the Prime Minister told The Times that it had been a "very unlucky incident" from various aspects.

Prof. Buttiglione, he said, had every right to express his opinion about his own personal values. However, there had been people who wanted to pre-judge him even before he had the chance to start doing his job.

"Personally I am disappointed at those who in parliament thought to act in this way. But the reality in politics is this, and this is our political system and everyone has to try to work in this system."

Dr Gonzi said the most important thing was that the EU overcame the problem as soon a possible. There was a good President designate and a good team of commissioners in place, including the Maltese Commissioner Joe Borg, and he expressed his conviction that they will deliver well over the next five years.

The issue of the new Commission was discussed by the EPP leaders and Commission designate president José Manuel Durao Barroso, who hails from the same political family, briefed the leaders on the latest developments.

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who was supposed to be at the meeting, didn't turn up.

The EPP leaders also discussed an application from the ruling Turkish Party for Justice and Development, known as the AKP, to join the EPP.

The leaders decided that in view of the decision to be taken next December about the start of accession negotiations with Turkey, the AKP, which is headed by Prime Minister Erdogan, should be given observer status.

Prime Minister Gonzi told The Times that Malta's position on Turkish membership of the EU was that as long as it satisfied all the entry criteria, Malta had no objection.