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EU: Sefcovic's Hearing in EP Begins With His Views on Roma Minority
Monday 18 January 2010 Zoom in | Print page
Strasburg, January 18 (TASR) - The hearing of designated Slovak EU Commissioner Maros Sevcovic began on the turf of the European Parliament (EP) seat in Strasburg, France, with sensitive Roma-related topics on the table, TASR learned on Monday evening.
During the screening Sefcovic is expected, besides knowing the agenda of his forthcoming agenda and portfolio (inter-institutional relations and administration), to explain his attitude towards the issues related to Roma minority.
Last week he became a target of criticism of two Hungarian MEPs (from the People's Party faction) who accused him of making anti-Roma statements. Sefcovic allegedly said at a conference in January 2005 that Romas are abusing Slovakia's social system. Later, chief of the EP's People's Party faction Joseph Daul said that such a statement would be unacceptable vis-a-vis Sefcovic's ambitions to become an EU commissioner.
"I thoroughly respect human rights, I disapprove of discrimination regardless of what it's based on, and I've always been a supporter of social inclusion," Sefcovic said in his ten-minute opening speech – followed by a nearly three-hour long series of questions raised by MEPs from several EP committees.
"This quote, which is five years old and made up from six words attributed to me, is being taken out of context. The quote was part of a larger discussion," emphasised Sefcovic, adding that he's familiar with the problems of Roma population quite well - especially as he comes from the country with the largest (per capita) Roma minority.
During the grilling Sefcovic has called upon MEPs to inspect his commitment to the Roma issue during his tenure as Slovak ambassador to EU. He has also promised that this issue would constitute part of his agenda as commissioner and that he will do his utmost to raise awareness about it if confirmed.
"I didn't mean to insult anyone. I feel sorry if I did unintentionally, but this quote doesn't represent my views, as I've never had any anti-Roma opinions. I stand ready to engage in co-operation with the EP," added Sefcovic, whose statements were regarded as "excellent" by his interrogators.
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