03/07/2003 13:48
SILVIO BERLUSCONI sparked a furious diplomatic row and threatened to create a serious rift between EU chiefs last night after likening a German MEP to a Nazi concentration camp commandant.
The European Parliament gave the Italian Prime Minister until lunchtime today to apologise for his remarks or risk a torrid six-month presidency of the EU.
His outburst had already prompted Gerhard Schröder’s aides to summon the Italian Ambassador to Berlin to protest about his Prime Minister’s “unacceptable” comments.
Far from retreating, the Italian Foreign Ministry then summoned the German Ambassador in Rome to complain about the MEP’s criticism of Signor Berlusconi. That “constituted a grave, unacceptable offence to the dignity of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and to the Italian and European institutions”, it said.
The furore represented the worst possible start to Italy’s presidency and raised fresh questions about Signor Berlusconi’s fitness to lead Europe.
He later apologised to the German people for causing offence, but refused to apologise to the Social Democrat MEP, despite being asked to do so by the President of the Parliament. Last night the Parliament gave him until lunchtime to apologise and leading MEPs will meet this morning to decide how to respond to his attack on Martin Schulz.
His eruption came as he presented the Parliament with his country’s programme for the presidency. During a stormy debate, left-wing and Green MEPs attacked Signor Berlusconi’s control of Italy’s media, and his immunity from prosecution on corruption charges.
The flamboyant media tycoon-turned-politician finally lost his temper, rounding on Herr Schulz for suggesting that “the virus of Italian conflict of interest is being transferred to the EU”.
He declared: “Mr Schulz, I know there is a producer in Italy who is making a film on the Nazi concentration camps. I will suggest you for the role of commander. You’d be perfect.”
The words caused uproar. Pat Cox, the Parliament’s Irish President, called on Signor Berlusconi to withdraw the remark. When he refused, Mr Cox suspended the debate.
The incident wrecked one of the most important relationships in the complex EU decision-making process. Almost three quarters of all European legislation requires agreement between EU governments and MEPs. Signor Berlusconi’s comments have broken the trust that had gradually been built up between the two.
The outburst embarrassed even members of Signor Berlusconi’s coalition Government. Gianfranco Fini, the Deputy Prime Minister, said that “no accusation, however fractious, can justify the epithet of Nazi”.
The European Parliament gave the Italian Prime Minister until lunchtime today to apologise for his remarks or risk a torrid six-month presidency of the EU.
His outburst had already prompted Gerhard Schröder’s aides to summon the Italian Ambassador to Berlin to protest about his Prime Minister’s “unacceptable” comments.
Far from retreating, the Italian Foreign Ministry then summoned the German Ambassador in Rome to complain about the MEP’s criticism of Signor Berlusconi. That “constituted a grave, unacceptable offence to the dignity of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and to the Italian and European institutions”, it said.
The furore represented the worst possible start to Italy’s presidency and raised fresh questions about Signor Berlusconi’s fitness to lead Europe.
He later apologised to the German people for causing offence, but refused to apologise to the Social Democrat MEP, despite being asked to do so by the President of the Parliament. Last night the Parliament gave him until lunchtime to apologise and leading MEPs will meet this morning to decide how to respond to his attack on Martin Schulz.
His eruption came as he presented the Parliament with his country’s programme for the presidency. During a stormy debate, left-wing and Green MEPs attacked Signor Berlusconi’s control of Italy’s media, and his immunity from prosecution on corruption charges.
The flamboyant media tycoon-turned-politician finally lost his temper, rounding on Herr Schulz for suggesting that “the virus of Italian conflict of interest is being transferred to the EU”.
He declared: “Mr Schulz, I know there is a producer in Italy who is making a film on the Nazi concentration camps. I will suggest you for the role of commander. You’d be perfect.”
The words caused uproar. Pat Cox, the Parliament’s Irish President, called on Signor Berlusconi to withdraw the remark. When he refused, Mr Cox suspended the debate.
The incident wrecked one of the most important relationships in the complex EU decision-making process. Almost three quarters of all European legislation requires agreement between EU governments and MEPs. Signor Berlusconi’s comments have broken the trust that had gradually been built up between the two.
The outburst embarrassed even members of Signor Berlusconi’s coalition Government. Gianfranco Fini, the Deputy Prime Minister, said that “no accusation, however fractious, can justify the epithet of Nazi”.
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