Commissioner Günter Oettinger's comments about Bulgaria

30.5.2013

Question for written answer P-006105-13
to the Commission
Rule 117
Ivailo Kalfin (S&D)

On 29 May 2013 the German daily newspaper Bild reported on a speech by Commissioner Günter Oettinger to the German-Belgian-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce[1] expressing views about Bulgaria and a number of other countries.

‘I am worried by countries that are essentially ungovernable, namely Bulgaria, Rumania and Italy,’ the Commissioner was quoted as saying. He added that eurosceptic movements were on the rise in many EU countries and singled out the UK, where Prime Minister David Cameron enjoyed the support of ‘unspeakable backbenchers, his English Tea Party’. The Commissioner also voiced concern about the economic situation in France, saying that the country was ‘completely unprepared to do what’s necessary to get back on track’.

Given that neither Commissioner Oettinger nor the Commission has denied the reported comments, some questions must be asked.

What are the grounds for the Commissioner’s description of Bulgaria as an essentially ungovernable country?

Does the Commission consider it appropriate for its official representative, in whatever capacity he may be speaking, to make statements of this kind about Member States?

• [1] http://www.bild.de/politik/inland/guenther-oettinger/eu-kommissar-europa-ist-ein-sanierungsfall-30595650.bild.html

OJ C 48 E, 20/02/2014