As expected, MEPs gave Tajani a hard time, questioning his qualifications and integrity (EurActiv 09/05/08). To make his case, Tajani refered to his past experience as air traffic controller and as a journalist writing about "air accidents" and the new Italian highway code.
Tajani defends 'independence'
Responding to questions on how he intended to guarantee his independence from transport industry lobbyists, the commissioner replied: "I'm not pocketable by any lobby".
Regarding a Commission investigation into a €300m government loan to Alitalia, Tajani stressed that "there is no difference between Alitalia and any other company" and said his Italian nationality would not prevent him from being "one of the guardians of the Treaties" (EurActiv 25/04/08). He added that he had already begun investigating whether state aid rules had been infringed.
Tajani even succeeded in surprising the audience with innovative ideas, identifying a more unified air traffic control system, instead of the current 27 national control centres, as a crucial step in cutting emissions from the sector. He also said he would push for the introduction of a modern system for detecting dangerous liquids in air travellers' luggage, which would make the current drastic limitations redundant.
Barrot: Data protection the priority
Commission Vice President Jacques Barrot had to address more political questions, including the next steps following the failure of the Irish referendum. He said this event merely "postpones" increases to the Parliament's powers, and until then the Union should, in his words, remain a "model" by respecting "the triangle formed by freedom, security and justice". He also expressed his view that a referendum was an inappropriate way of ratifying a treaty.
Among his priorities, he highlighted the fight against discrimination and data protection, which is a key issue in the EU's relations with the US. Barrot also proposed the creation of a rapid response system for child abductions and an initiative to protect minors in divorce cases. On immigration, he spoke in favour of integrating legal immigrants while tightening external border controls.
