Outrage over EU chief's anti-gay views

One of Europe’s new Commissioners was under growing pressure to step down tonight for describing homosexuality as a “sin”.

Italian Rocco Buttiglione’s nomination to a top Brussels job was rejected at a stormy meeting of Euro-MPs in Brussels.

They want him moved to a less sensitive post than the Justice and Home Affairs portfolio he has been given – or removed altogether.

The MEPs have no power to force Mr Buttiglione aside, but his unprecedented rejection over his personal views is a major embarrassment for Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who nominated him, and for the incoming Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso.

Mr Barroso has promised MEPs that if they have serious objections to any of his new team, he will take notice.

“We certainly expect Mr Barroso to keep to his word,” said London Labour MEP Claude Moraes.

“This is a big humiliation and a clear signal to the Commission that many of us find the views of the Italian Commissioner-designate incompatible with running Europe’s policies on asylum, immigration and justice.”

The 27-26 vote of the European Parliament’s Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee sounds close – but with a centre-right majority on the committee, the centre-right Italian Commissioner should have easily outrun centre-left opposition.

But antagonism crossed political boundaries following Mr Buttiglione’s appearance before the Committee last week at a “confirmation hearing” – a ritual all Commissioners face before being endorsed in a full European Parliament vote.

Mr Buttiglione’s admitted during questioning that homosexuality was a “sin” and that he thought the primary role of women was “to have children and be protected by their husbands”.

Asked how his views would affect his policies Buttiglione responded: “I am ready to seek dialogue, which is normal in a democracy, but if a proposal is contrary to my moral principles I would oppose it.”

He also endorsed the idea of transit camps for asylum seekers and a ‘safe list’ of countries from which no asylum applications would be accepted – further upsetting many MEPs.

A coalition of Socialists, Liberal and Green MEPs vowed to reject him, despite insistence from centre-right Christian Democrats that he would do a good job.

Mr Moraes aid: “We simply don’t believe he can keep those private views separate from his job.

“Mr Barroso must now move him to another, less sensitive post.”

Labour MEP Michael Cashman, a British member of the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee, said: “Most MEPs do not want this man to be put in charge of defending human rights, civil liberties and the EU’s anti-discrimination laws.

“The game is almost up for Buttiglione. I don’t see how he can become a Commissioner when he does not have the support of the committee he is accountable to.”

London Liberal Democrat MEP Sarah Ludford, said: “Mr Buttiglione has not convinced us he is a champion of fundamental freedoms or civil liberties or even effective security co-operation. It is vital to have a Commissioner for this key portfolio dealing with issues like anti-terrorism, asylum policy, combating discrimination and data protection who has both intellectual backbone and the ability to reflect mainstream European values.”

Sinn Féin Dublin MEP Mary Lou McDonald said Buttiglione should step down voluntarily: “Mr Buttiglione’s recent remarks are both outrageous and offensive. The very fact that Mr Buttiglione is an incoming European Commissioner with the portfolio of Justice, Freedom and Security will make citizens very uneasy. People will not have confidence in a EU Justice Minister who believes in injustice.

“I have been tracking the comments made by Mr Buttiglione over the past number of months and he has been consistent. At every available opportunity he seems intent on making inflammatory statements.

“Sinn Féin opposes Mr Buttiglione’s views on the role of women, sexuality and the issue of asylum. What we require is a progressive European Justice Commissioner who can promote a socially inclusive EU. Unfortunately, Mr Buttiglione does not seem to be the right person for the job.

“I am calling upon him to be replaced with someone progressive and open-minded.”

A Socialist statement in Brussels said: “We believe that Mr Buttiglione’s opinions on civil liberties, gay and lesbian rights are disastrous, and not up to EU standards”.

Euro-MPs have the legal power to reject all 25 Commissioners en bloc, but they cannot pick off individuals. Blanket rejection is not on the cards in the vote in a fortnight, but if Mr Barroso ignores the MEPs’ objections to Mr Buttiglione, relations between the European Parliand the Commission – crucial to the smooth-running of the EU – will be at rock-bottom before the new team has even moved into its offices.

Mr Buttiglione was being officially informed tonight that he has failed the test – but he has already said he considers objections to his moral views as discrimination of a kind his political enemies claim to oppose.

But he has found himself up against senior figures, including the President of the European Parliament Romano Prodi, who commented: “I find his views shocking. I don’t think that at this moment in time we can have such people in charge of justice – especially justice. Perhaps if he were in charge of beetroots, it wouldn’t be so serious.”