“The President has not and does not agree with the criticism expressed by the MEP in question,” Commission spokesperson Reijo Kemppinen told The Malta Independent on Sunday.
“On the contrary, the President both appreciates Dr Borg’s professional skills highly and also likes him personally,” Mr Kemppinen said on Thursday.
The previous day, Mr Prodi had told the EP that he agreed with Mr Van der Berg’s criticism of Dr Borg. “Sono assolutamente d’accordo” (“I absolutely agree”), the Commission President said in reply to Mr Van der Berg’s statement.
Speaking during the debate on the motion approving the expanded commission, Mr Van der Berg, who is the acting chairman of the EP Committee on Development and Cooperation, said:
“President, 10 new countries, 10 new commissioners, and the new countries have got to meet the criteria but with Joe Borg as a commissioner designate it was clear from the hearings that he was not prepared to make a success of the Development and Cooperation brief.
“There is such a thing as public acceptance and I say this in full respect for him as an individual, but also in full independence as we must do a serious job of work and in the draft resolution, which we will be putting to the vote, there is reference to the criticism from the relevant parliamentary committee.
“President, our idea is that the world has changed dramatically but between now and October we must have a better candidate to combat poverty.
“Now that’s our verdict, but if the commission can tell us that they have taken cognisance of the criticism in the draft motion for the resolution, then I think that this will vindicate the value of the work we are trying to do in those hearings.”
However, Mr Prodi’s personal opinion of Dr Borg will influence the choice of the new commission taking office on 1 November.
“The distribution of portfolios for the next Commission is entirely in the hands of his successor, who will be appointed in the June European Council, and (he) does not wish to express any opinions on this issue,” Mr Kemppinen told The Malta Independent on Sunday.
Mr Van der Berg had already criticised Mr Borg’s expertise. In a letter to Joseph Daul, chairman of the Conference of Committee Chairmen of the EP, Mr Van der Berg wrote:
“In general terms, the nominee Commissioner has given a convincing impression of his personal and professional capacities and his aptitude to assume the high office he has been proposed for.
“However, we remain to be convinced of his expertise and political vision in certain areas regarding development cooperation and the fight against poverty.
“The committee has expressed, through its written and oral questions and during the subsequent discussion, its view on the importance of development cooperation and humanitarian aid for the EU and therefore wishes to express its opinion that the fields of EU development policy and humanitarian aid policy need a person of the highest level of expertise, commitment and quality.”
Since Dr Borg was twinned with Development and Humanitarian Aid Commissioner Poul Nielson, the hearing in the EP on 13 April took place in front of the Committee on Development and Cooperation.
On its part, the Conference of Committee Chairmen had sent a letter to EP President Pat Cox recommending “that Parliament should approve the Commission in its new form following the accession of the 10 new Member States to the European Union as from 1 May 2004”.
“The Conference of Committee Chairmen takes the view that the Commissioners-designate performed satisfactorily at their hearings, demonstrating a genuine commitment to European integration and the technical abilities required to carry out their intended duties, albeit with differing levels of knowledge at present, as can be seen from the respective assessment letters,” Mr Daul wrote.
On Wednesday, the European Parliament approved the enlarged Commission with 531 votes in favour, 18 votes against and 39 abstentions.
The new Commissioners’ mandate is limited to six months, as on 1 November a new Commission will take office.
Following the decision by the June European Council, in July the newly elected European Parliament will hold a vote of approval of the nominee President of the new Commission followed by compulsory hearings with all 25 Commissioner nominees.