Some MEPs within the European People's Party have doubts on Karmenu Vella's nomination to serve as European Commissioner in view of his past, raising questions on his declaration that he voted for Malta's EU accession, and about hunting, according to MEP David Casa.

Karmenu Vella will be the first European Commissioner-designate to face MEPs when the grilling sessions get under way this afternoon in Brussels.

The sitting, starting at 2.30pm, will be shown live on timesofmalta.com.

Mr Casa  said the Nationalist Party MEPs, who form part of the EPP, had worked within the group to garner support for Mr Vella's nomination.

He said Mr Vella's declaration in written submissions to MEPs that he had voted for EU accession (while his party opposed it) came as a big surprise.

"I smiled when I read it... At least the campaign in favour of accession had convinced someone like him," Mr Casa said.

It remained a question mark though, because Mr Vella had voted against Malta's accession treaty when it came to the vote in the Maltese parliament after the 2003 election.

Mr Casa denied the PN delegation had ever worked against Mr Vella, saying that they had met him and Maltese government officials to offer support.

"I feel pressure should be put on whether commissioners are prepared on their dossiers and not irrelevant issues," Mr Casa said.

Hunting is expected to feature as an issue, something that will persist throughout the five years given Malta's reputation on the subject.

Roberta Metsola said that the EPP would be seeking political answers from all commissioners and not technical replies. "We are interested in seeing a commission that takes decisions and not simply rely on the technical submissions."

The PN MEPs, which also include Therese Comodini Cachia, wished Mr Vella well but underscored that all depended on how he answered the questions put to him by MEPs.

Mr Vella has been nominated for a vast portfolio that includes fisheries, maritime affairs and the environment, which makes it by far the largest ever held by any Maltese commissioner.

Although he is expected to face some tough questions, especially on the environment, it is unlikely Mr Vella will face insurmountable obstacles.

European Parliament insiders have told Times of Malta that the two largest political groups, the European People’s Party and the Socialists and Democrats, have reached a tacit agreement to get the new commission approved by the October deadline.

“There is no mood in Brussels to drag on with the hearings and this means they will do little to put spokes in the wheels of commissioner-designates,” a source said.

MEPs do not vote on individual commissioners but only take one vote to approve the whole executive as proposed by European Commission president-designate Jean Claude Juncker.

There is no mood in Brussels to drag on with the hearings

Mr Juncker will take note of the hearings and may reshuffle portfolios or ask for member states to suggest new nominees in the face of resistance to any one of the commissioner-designates. However, sources say this is very unlikely.

Mr Vella could face particular resistance from the Greens, which have interpreted the inclusion of environment with other portfolios as a way to dilute stiff European regulations.

Hunting could be expected to feature in the hearing given the contentious situation in Malta.

But another issue Mr Vella could face is his declaration that he had voted for EU accession in a questionnaire to MEPs. Having been a prominent member of the anti-membership Labour Party then captained by Alfred Sant and a candidate in the 2003 election in which EU membership was the main issue, Mr Vella’s declaration that he voted for Malta to join the EU left political observers surprised.

Whether MEPs will pick up on this has still to be seen but they will certainly be asking him about his beliefs in the values that underpin the EU.

 

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