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EU's health replacement

November 21, 2012

The European Parliament has dealt with the resignation of former EU health commissioner John Dalli over corruption allegations by voting for another Maltese, Tonio Borg, to fill the vacancy.

https://p.dw.com/p/16nXO
epa03469482 European Commissioner-designate for Health and Consumer Policy Maltese Tonio Borg attends a hearing before EU Parliament Committees on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, Internal Market and Consumer Protection and Agriculture at the EU Parliament in Brussels, Belgium 13 November 2012. Borg was facing a grilling over his conservative political views on rights for same-sex couples. EPA/OLIVIER HOSLET
Image: picture-alliance/dpa

European Parliamentarians voted on Wednesday to approve Borg's nomination as the next health commissioner in the EU. Borg's nomination received 386 votes for and 281 against, with 21 abstentions.

Borg (photo above) is currently foreign minister of Malta. Dalli, who also hails from Malta, resigned last month after allegations from the EU anti-fraud office that linked the commissioner to attempts to influence EU tobacco legislation.

However, Borg's nomination is not itself free of controversy. His conservative views of abortion and homosexuality have led some parliamentarians to question Borg's suitability for the post. Last week, during a hearing for Borg's nomination, he promised to put the treaties of the EU above his personal views.

Allegations that connect Borg with a corruption scandal in his native Malta have also raised eyebrows in Brussels.

Borg's nomination must still be confirmed by the European council of the 27 EU states, which is expected in the coming days.

mz/ (AP, dpa)

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Maltese foreign minister Tonio Borg (Photo: Jean-Christophe Verhaegen/ AFP/ Getty Images)

Controversy over Malta's EU Commissioner-to-be

Controversy over Malta's EU Commissioner-to-be

In a nomination hearing, Malta's foreign minister Tonio Borg will face questions Tuesday by members of the European Parliament. Greens and Liberals voice doubts about his aptitude as new EU Health Commissioner. (12.11.2012)
November 12, 2012