Promise to the national minorities

The Members of the European Parliament (MEP) began the hearings of the commissioner-designates on January 11th.  The MEP are exercising the right of oversight over the legislative processes of the EU since it is one of their most important duties is to ensure that the right people occupy the right positions in the European Commission (EC). The hearing last 7 workdays and the EP plans to vote on the new EC on January 26 in its plenary sitting.

Europe is at a turning point: the financial crisis, climate change, job creation, economic growth and immigration – challenges no country can cope with on its own. The EC has a great responsibility in providing answers to these questions. A good commissioner can bring long lasting changes in the processes of the EC. The hearings can bring surprises: the EP has already rejected some candidates or some commissioner-designates needed to change their portfolio due to their performance at the hearings. So these hearings can be considered somewhat of an „acceptance procedure”.

The new commissioners are called to the hearings by the different committees of the EP. The MEPs questions are aimed to asses their capabilities mainly in the field of their future portfolios. The subsequent evaluations of the committees are then examined by the President of the EP and the leaders of the political groups. The hearings are held this week in Brussels and will continue next week in Strasbourg.

DAHR’s MEP Sógor Csaba submitted a question to Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship designated Commissioner Viviane Reding. Mrs. Reading, originally from Luxembourg, is also the front runner for the vice-president seat of the EC and has already spent two terms as commissioner: first as commissioner of culture and education, then as commissioner for information and media. As a representative of a small country she speaks one of the least used language of the EU, the Luxembourgian language.

Mr. Sógor Csaba expressed his confidence that the commissioner-designate will use the upmost sensitivity in handling the delicate issue of the national minorities:

- What measures is the commissioner-designate planning to take in order for the all kind of discrimination towards the national minorities to disappear in accordance with the Stockholm program and thus for the individuals belonging to these groups to be full-right European citizens and to contribute to the a Europe based on freedom, security and the right of law?

The commissioner-designate made reference to the new legislative measures that came into force with the Lisbon treaty (the 2nd article of the Treaty and the 21st article of the Charter for Fundamental Rights) that can facilitate meaningful measures in guaranteeing the rights of the individuals belonging to the traditional national minorities. Mrs. Reading also stated that she intends to fully take into consideration the reports of the Fundamental Rights Agency seated in Vienna. Also, a member of her staff will have the sole duty of dealing with minority issues. The commissioner-designate promised she will introduce new systems of protecting the rights of the traditional national minorities.

- I feel I’ve received an ensuring answer to my question – said Mr. Sógor Csaba in reference to the hearing. – It is not impossible, but nevertheless really hard to get a proper promise at one of these hearing, but we’ve managed to achieve this in the field of the rights of the traditional national minorities.

Mr. Sógor Csaba, MEP's question to commissioner-designate Viviane Reding can be viewed here.