MEP envoy in Berlusconi row ‘too busy’ to take on job

Date: 26/04/01

By John Shelley

PLANS to send an envoy to Spain to resolve a row over calls for the prosecution of Italian prime ministerial candidate Silvio Berlusconi have been thrown into disarray after the MEP chosen for the job said she was too busy to go.

European Parliament President Nicole Fontaine had said she was to dispatch French MEP Marie-Françoise Garaud to Madrid in a bid to get the Spanish authorities to re-submit a request for Berlsusconi's Parliamentary immunity to be lifted.

But Garaud this week told European Voice that for "personal reasons" she would not be able to do the job for weeks or possibly months.

"I have some personal affairs to take care of; it's not possible for me to go in the short term," she said.

"I don't know what Mrs Fontaine's decision will be, perhaps she will want to send someone else or perhaps she will wait for me."

Socialists were keen for the envoy to travel to Spain before the May Italian election, which Berlusconi is favourite to win. The left-wing MEPs have reacted with anger to the mix-up. "This is a serious matter - it would be nice if we could have some urgency in dealing with it," said Socialist group spokesman Enda McKay.

The Spanish courts first asked for Berlusconi's immunity to be waived last summer over alleged tax fraud in connection with his part ownership of Spanish television station Tele 5. Fontaine sent that request back to Spain because she says it did not come from the correct authority.

The Parliament's Socialists say Fontaine acted beyond her powers and that the decision should have been referred to the assembly's legal experts.

Earlier this month the Parliament's political group leaders decided to send an envoy to Spain as soon as possible in a bid to clear up the mess, but with Garaud apparently backing out the chances of action before the critical Italian election are fading fast.

The Council of Europe, an institution whose members include countries that are not members of the EU, has also received a request for Berlusconi's immunity to be lifted. He sits on that body as a member of the Italian Parliament's delegation.

Socialists were this week quick to point out the contrast between the way these two requests have been handled.

Socialist group leader, Spanish MEP Enrique Barón Crespo, said: "I applaud the speed at which the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly has reacted, in compliance with its rules.

"This is in stark contrast with the scandalous treatment of the similar requests to the European Parliament which has resulted in a delay of nine months."

Fontaine, who was visiting South America this week, was unavailable for comment.

Plans to send an envoy to Spain to resolve a row over calls for the prosecution of Italian prime ministerial candidate Silvio Berlusconi have been thrown into disarray after the MEP chosen for the job said she was too busy to go.