Posted on 05/26/2005 1:53:28 PM PDT by ScaniaBoy
THE Conservative Party suspended an MEP yesterday after he supported the UK Independence Party in a censure motion against José Manuel Barroso, the President of the European Commission.
The UKIP had succeeded in overcoming overwhelming opposition from the Brussels political establishment to make Senhor Barroso defend himself against sleaze allegations days before European referendums in France and the Netherlands.
In an extraordinary piece of political drama, Nigel Farage, the UKIP leader in the European Parliament, faced booing in the chamber and was denounced as a demagogue and accused of trying to undermine the Commission’s reputation before the referendums.
Roger Helmer, a Conservative Eurosceptic, came to his aid and denounced political leaders, including those of the European Conservative group, for strongarming MEPs into withdrawing their names from the UKIP motion.
Mr Helmer was one of five Conservatives who signed the motion but the only one to support it in the chamber.
Hans-Gert Pöttering, leader of the European People’s Party, to which the Conservatives are allied, said that he would expel Mr Helmer from the group, declaring: “No one, but no one, must be allowed to shake our resolve as we continue to build European integration.”
Phillip Bradbourn, the Tory chief whip, sent Mr Helmer a letter stating: “In consequence of your action today, including the deliberate attack on the leader of our delegation and the Conservative Party . . . I have no alternative but to suspend the Conservative whip from you forthwith pending further investigations.”Mr Helmer rejected the accusation that he attacked the party.
The Parliament summoned Senhor Barroso to explain a free holiday that he had on the luxury yacht of Spiros Latsis, the Greek shipping multibillionaire, after Mr Farage collected the 75 signatures necessary to table a motion of censure.
Senhor Barroso has personal responsibility for EU competition policy in shipping, and Mr Latsis’ companies have other links with the Commission.
Senhor Barroso failed to disclose the free holiday, reportedly worth €20,000 (£13,700), saying that he did not consider it a conflict of interest. He took it before assuming the presidency but after his appointment.
Mr Farage told the Parliament: “What we are asking for is disclosure. It can and should be done. By insisting these free holidays maintain no conflict of interest, you put yourself in a difficult position. When you are in a hole, Mr Barroso, stop digging.”
Senhor Barroso said: “This motion is unfair, unjustified, illegitimate and absurd. This has gone across the border from democracy to demagoguery, and that is not something we can accept.”
The summons was an embarrassment for Senhor Barroso, but political leaders queued up to denounce Mr Farage. Herr Pöttering said: “This motion is humanly indecent because it is against the building of our continent. It is an attack on the European institutions and the credibility of the commission.”
Graham Watson, leader of the Liberal group, told the motion’s signatories: “You are ridiculous. It is just a ploy to discredit the Commission.”
“ raises this motion of censure as its only tool to have the Commission President José Barroso to appear before it in plenary to explain how he could receive a gift to a value of several thousands euros from a billionaire businessman who then one month later, received the green light from the European Commission for a regional aid grant to a value of 10 million Euros.
1. Censures the Commission for this reason.
2. Instructs its President to forward this motion of censure to the Commission and notify the President of the Council and the President of the Commission of the results of the vote.
Reasons
The reasons for censure are set out in the motion itself. However it is prepared to withdraw this motion of censure if it gets a reasonable explanation in plenary and clear rules obliging all commissioners to register all gifts of substantial value.
Here is the comment from the author of the motion of censure, Mr Nigel Farage, UKIP:
Unaccountable, Unspeakable, Unreformable
25-05-2005
Today the European Commission President Barroso rewrote the rules on accountability for European officials. From what he has said, there is no separation of powers and there must be no questioning of Commissioner's receipt of gifts and hospitality.
"This is astonishing," said Nigel Farage MEP, who launched the motion of censure, "we have the executive acting in an offhand fashion and refusing democratic accountability, and their supporting poodles in the big political groups reneging on their responsibility to their electorate".
"I am sure", he said "that this will only confirm the increasing No vote in the forthcoming French and Dutch referenda."
Further information,
Nigel Farage MEP 0044 7802597692
Gawain Towler, Head of Media Ind/Dem Group 0032 496 510 711
For those British Freepers who wish to communicate with the Tory MEPs who acted in a way that ought to make a Conservative with both small and large "c" proud, they are:
Daniel Hannan: dhannan@europarl.eu.int
Roger Helmer: rhelmer@europarl.eu.int
Christopher Heaton-Harris: cheaton@europarl.eu.int
Martin Callanan: mcallanan@europarl.eu.int
David Sumberg: dsumberg@europarl.eu.int
On the other hand, those who feel that they would like to convey their views on the fact that British Tories now take their orders from Berlin, the Tory group leader in Brussels, and the Tory whip are respectively:
Timothy Kirkhope: tkirkhope@europarl.eu.int
Philip Bradbourne: PBradbourn@europarl.eu.int
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