MEPs fail to test Almunia

JOAQUÍN ALUMINA

Competition

Nationality: Spanish

Political Affiliation: PES

Previous job: European commissioner for economic and monetary affairs

Age: 61

Revisiting the past

UK Independence Party MEP Godfrey Bloom quizzed Almunia on whether he was a “member of the Marxist wing of the Spanish Socialist Workers Party [SSWP]”, and on whether an SSWP government in the 1980s had opposed the independence of the Baltic states. Almunia said he was “proud” to belong to the SSWP (Spain's ruling party). “If you would talk to [Germany's former] Chancellor Kohl he would say that this government [in the 1980s] got it right in terms of supporting German reunification and the democratisation of central and eastern European countries,” he said. “I have always supported enlargement without any reservations,” he added.

Stickiest moment

Almunia seemed slightly unsteady when probed by Green MEPs Philippe Lamberts and Sven Giegold on the scope for greater tax harmonisation in the EU. Almunia initially told Giegold: “I cannot go beyond the limits set by the treaties, and the treaties specify that favourable tax treatments are compatible.” Giegold contradicted Almunia, pointing out that “your predecessors already used state aid measures to limit unfair tax competition”. Almunia said he would act to the “limits” of the treaty.

Stage-managed theatre

Almunia signing and endorsing a written request from the committee for co-operation in decision- making.