Euro-MP Calls For Suspension Of Commissioner

3.00.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 22nd Nov 2004

Euro-MPs are demanding the immediate suspension of a European Commissioner on the very day that he takes up office.

Revelations that the French Transport Commissioner Jaques Barrot was convicted four years ago in a scandal over the funding of his political party have caused fury. Neither the European Commission President nor the European Parliament were told of the situation prior to his appointment.

Although Mr Barrot gained nothing personally from the offence, and his record was wiped clean by an amnesty, pro-European MEPs know that opponents of British membership of the EU have been handed a political gift.

West Midlands Euro-MP Liz Lynne backed calls for the transport commissioner to be suspended pending an explanation and vote in the European Parliament.

The Liberal Democrat MEP commented:

"It is incredible that having just completed the task of appointing the new Commission we should now find that vital information has been kept from us about one individual.

"I feel sorry for the European Commission President, Jose Manual Barroso, who has been kept equally in the dark and is now embarrassed and weakened in authority.

"Under French law Mr Barrot is innocent of any offence and many will argue that it is not for MEPs to interfere in the legal requirements of one nation, but secrecy of this kind is not acceptable and the people of Europe should have the right to be informed of such matters."

ENDS