Plaid Cymru's Deputy Leader and Euro-MP Jill Evans has confirmed that she intends to vote to reject the new European Commission when the European Parliament meets to vote on the issue tomorrow (Wednesday).

The vote is believed to be finely balanced and incoming EU Commission Chief José Barroso has been trying to persuade MEPs to back his controversial team. Ms Evans disapproves of the undemocratic way in which the Commission is selected and believes that certain Commissioners are unsuitable for their proposed posts.

Speaking from Strasbourg Jill Evans MEP said:

"Barroso has had every opportunity to heed the advice of Parliament with his new team but he's failed to make any realistic or meaningful concessions. European Commissioners have an important and influential job to do in many key areas that affect all our lives - that's why it's absolutely essential that we get the right person for each job.

"Some of the candidates are certainly quite impressive but others are clearly not up to the job. We need fundamental change so that we are allowed to veto individual Commissioners who are unsuitable rather than be forced to say yes or no to the whole team."

Commenting on the controversial Italian nominee, Jill Evans MEP added:

"I find it utterly unacceptable that Italy's candidate, Rocco Buttiglione, should remain nominated for any role in the Commission - let alone Justice and Home Affairs - given the disparaging remarks he's made about gay people and women.

"Of course he has every right to his personal and religious beliefs. But this is not a question of religious freedom as some have made out, it's about finding a person who will not let personal prejudice interfere with their job as a European Commissioner. Mr Buttiglione is not the right person for this or any other role in the European Commission."

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