Tonio Borg

Tonio Borg
Borg in 2010
European Commissioner for Health
In office 1 July 2013 – 1 November 2014
President	José Manuel Barroso
Preceded by	Himself (Health and Consumer Policy)
Succeeded by	Vytenis Andriukaitis (Health and Food Safety)
European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy
In office 28 November 2012 – 1 July 2013
President	José Manuel Barroso
Preceded by	Maroš Šefčovič (Acting)
Succeeded by	Himself (Health) Neven Mimica (Consumer Protection)
Deputy Prime Minister of Malta
In office 23 March 2004 – 28 November 2012
Prime Minister	Lawrence Gonzi
Preceded by	Lawrence Gonzi
Succeeded by	Louis Grech
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office 12 March 2008 – 28 November 2012
Prime Minister	Lawrence Gonzi
Preceded by	Michael Frendo
Succeeded by	Francis Zammit Dimech
Minister of Justice
In office 15 April 2003 – 12 March 2008
Prime Minister	Eddie Fenech Adami Lawrence Gonzi
Preceded by	Austin Gatt
Succeeded by	Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici
Minister of Home Affairs
In office 8 September 1998 – 12 March 2008
Prime Minister	Eddie Fenech Adami Lawrence Gonzi
Preceded by	Alfred Sant
Succeeded by	Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici
In office 17 April 1995 – 28 October 1996
Prime Minister	Eddie Fenech Adami
Preceded by	Louis Galea
Succeeded by	Alfred Sant
Personal details
Born	(1957-05-12) 12 May 1957 (age 67) Floriana, Malta
Political party	Nationalist Party
Spouse	Adele Galea
Children	3
Alma mater	University of Malta

Tonio Borg (born 12 May 1957) is a conservative Maltese politician who served as the European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy replacing John Dalli as member of the College of the European Commission in the second Barroso Commission.^[1][2][3]

Borg's political views have been described as Christian Democratic inspired by Catholic social teaching. He had proposed to entrench into the Maltese Constitution the sections of the law banning abortion (already a criminal offence in Malta).^[4]

In Parliament, he voted against the introduction of a divorce law, despite it being upheld in a consultative referendum. Borg also spoke out in 2009 against including cohabiting couples (either heterosexual or homosexual) as beneficiaries to legislation enacted around the time of the Second World War intended to protect tenants during the housing shortage of the time.^[5][6]

During Borg's nominee for commissioner, Pierre Galand [fr] the president of the European Humanist Association said: “We believe that this candidacy is clearly damaging for Europe and seriously concerning for the quality of health services enjoyed by those millions of European citizens. There are serious doubts as to whether Borg shares this commitment. As Minister of Justice in Malta, he repeatedly and vigorously opposed women’s sexual and reproductive rights and even campaigned in 2004 to constitutionalize the abortion ban in his home country. In 2011, he also strongly opposed the legalisation of divorce in Malta. In addition, he has openly expressed contempt for the LGBT community and opposed the recognition of the rights of homosexual co-habiting couples in the Maltese Parliament in 2009. Finally, as Home Affairs Minister, he clearly failed to protect the rights of illegal migrants.”^[7]

During Borg's nomination to become commissioner the European Parliament Intergroup speaking on behalf of ILGA (an LGBT advocacy group) has said “Tonio Borg’s views on abortion, homosexuality and divorce are staunchly conservative and outdated. While not necessarily on topics of EU competence, he views his strong opinions as ‘issues of conscience’, which would prevent him from being an impartial commissioner especially with the public health portfolio.”^[7][8]

• European Medicines Agency (EMA), Member of the Management Board^[9]

In December 2018 Borg was appointed Companion of the Order of Merit (KOM) by the President of Malta.

• Borg, Tonio (September 2020). "Conscientious objection and the equality bills". Times of Malta.

Media related to Tonio Borg at Wikimedia Commons