EUROPEAN COMMISSION Parliamentary hearings

Šefčovič fends off accusations

By Simon Taylor - 18.01.2010 / 23:53 CET

Slovak commissioner emerges safely after tackling head-on accusations of anti-Roma attitudes.

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Fact file

MAROŠ ŠEFČOVIČ

Inter-institutional relations and administration

Nationality: Slovakian

Political Affiliation: PES

Previous job: European commissioner for education and culture

Age: 43

Most entertaining question

“Do you think of yourself as a federalist or are you still in the closet?”, the UK Liberal Andrew Duff asked. “I'm not in the closet,” Šefčovič answered.

The longest moment

“For God's sake, somebody find him a clock.”

Spanish centre-right MEP Íñigo Méndez de Vigo after Šefčovič had overrun his time.

A meeting of minds

UK Conservative MEP Ashley Fox asked Šefčovič whether he favoured a treaty amendment to allow the European Parliament to choose where it is based. The Parliament currently meets in Brussels and Strasbourg. Šefčovič replied: “That's a good question.” Fox said: “That's why I asked it.”