MEPs' first reactions to the hearing of Commissioner-designate Tonio Borg on Tuesday evening were cautiously positive.

Tonio Borg reactions: Yes, but

Tonio Borg, EU Commissioner-designate  for health and consumer affairs

has completed his biggest public test  with style, and probably also successfully.

For three hours, the three parliamentary  committees affected by his brief

grilled the Maltese Foreign Minister on  policies, beliefs and communication skills.

On health issues, we feel there's  a real desire to continue the actions taken.

I hope we’ll be able to rely  on his vigilance and his authority

and his courage to defend the EP's views.

The post had become vacant because  his predecessor John Dalli had to resign

But even before the hearing,  Borg’s Catholic conservative views

on issues such as abortion,  gay, lesbian and transgender rights,

brought liberal members  to call for his rejection.

Malta may be a socially conservative  country, but even by its standards

your views seem to be  on the extreme side.

Malta’s outgoing Vice-Premier countered

by promising to be a European  and not a Maltese commissioner,

to abide by the European  Charter of Fundamental Rights,

My endeavour for  the current mandate would be

to deliver for patients and consumers  what I would call the three Cs:

ensuring continuity,  rebuilding confidence,

and giving my full commitment  to completion of the tasks ahead.

This combination did seem to convince  a clear majority of members

perhaps not to embrace him enthusiastically  but to give him a chance.

On issues concerning  the Internal Market Committee

he wasn’t that well prepared, he’ll have to  learn more on those, that’s clear.

Political group leaders will decide  on Thursday whether to support him.

Parliament as a whole will vote  during next week’s plenary session.