Civil society organisations call on MEPs to reject Tonio Borg’s nomination as EU Commissioner for Health
[Brussels, 15 November 2012] The EWL and its civl-society partners at EU-level have come together to issued a joint call to Members of the European Parliament to reject the nomination of Tonio Borg as EU Commissioner for Health. Mr Borg’s positions on abortion, divorce, equal rights for LGBT couples and migrants are incompatible with the fundamental values of the European Union. Read the Joint Statement below.
“We call for the rejection of Tonio Borg’s nomination at plenary vote at the European Parliament”
On 13 November 2012, Tonio Borg, Malta’s new nominee for the post of the EU Health Commissioner, was heard by the members of the European Parliament’s Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety.
Prior to the hearing, our organisations called on the Members of the European Parliament to reject Tonio Borg’s nomination. After the hearing, we continue to have serious concerns about his nomination.
During the hearing, Mr Borg addressed some of the issues raised by our organisations and he made a few commitments towards abiding by the EU Fundamental Rights’ Charter, particularly with regards to the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) people. However, we are highly dissatisfied with the way in which he addressed issues related to sexual and reproductive health, women’s rights and rights of migrants.
Despite commitments made at the hearing, our organisations’ strong objection to his nomination still remains. Mr. Borg’s political track record shows that his personal views have a strong influence on his political actions, despite reassurance to the contrary
We call on the European Parliament to reject Tonio Borg’s candidature on the basis of facts, which included his documented track record as well as on the basis of the Parliament hearing of 13 November 2012.
We ask you to vote against Tonio Borg’s nomination next Wednesday at the plenary vote on 21 November 2012 .
Signatories:
- Catholics for Choice www.catholicsforchoice.org
- European Humanist Federation www.humanistfederation.eu
- EAFT - European Association of Free Thought www.aepl.eu
- ENAR – European Network against Racism www.enar-eu.org
- EATG – European AIDS Treatment Group www.eatg.org
- ILGA-Europe –European Region of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association www.ilga-europe.org
- IPPF European Network – International Planned Parenthood Federation www.ippfen.org
- PICUM – Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants www.picum.org
- EWL - European Women Lobby www.womenslobby.org
Contacts
- Catholics for Choice: David Nolan, Communications Director, +1-202-986-6093
- ENAR: Georgina Siklossy, Communication and Press Officer, +32 2 229 35 77, georgina@enar-eu.org
- EATG: Ann Isabelle von Lingen, Policy Officer, +32 491 348 317, annisabelle.vonlingen@eatg.org and Oleksandr Martynenko, Communications Coordinator, + 32 491 348 312 , oleksandr.martynenko@eatg.org
- ILGA-Europe: Juris Lavrikovs, Communications Manager, +32 496 708 375, juris@ilga-europe.org
- IPPF: Irene Donadio, Manager Public Affairs, idonadio@ippfen.org and Marie-Agnès Lenoir, Senior Communications Advisor, +32 2 250 0950, mlenoir@ippfen.org
- PICUM: Kadri Soova, Advocacy Officer +32 496 451 291, kadri.soova@picum.org
- EWL: Leanda Barrington-Leach, Media and Communication Officer, +32 2 210 04 27, barrington@womenlobby.org
