Parliament yields over filming curb

By Martin Banks

Date: 14/04/05

The European Parliament has watered down proposals to restrict the activities of journalists and film crews in its buildings, after a storm of protests.

The assembly's leadership has dropped a controversial proposal which would have allowed security staff to seize the tapes and other equipment of TV crews that breach rules governing their activities in the Parliament.

But journalists' organisations and MEPs are objecting to a new proposal which would give the quaestors, the body responsible for supervising the business of MEPs, the right to designate areas where filming is banned. Another amendment states that: "Film cameramen and photographers shall have due regard to the personal dignity and privacy of all individuals present within the buildings."

The latest proposals by the general secretariat were discussed by the Parliament's bureau, comprising President Josep Borrell and 14 vice-presidents, at a meeting in Strasbourg on Monday.

No final decision was taken and the Parliament will have further talks with journalists' representatives before the matter is again discussed by the bureau next month.

Michael Stabenow, chairman of the Association de la Presse Internationale (API), which represents 450 Brussels-based correspondents, accused the Parliament of "over-reacting" to an "isolated" incident earlier this year when a German film crew filmed members signing the attendance register.

He said: "The proposals have been watered down but these remain draconian measures which are unjustified and totally unacceptable. We object to the quaestors having the right to say where people can film because it is totally arbitrary."

UK Conservative MEP Edward McMillan-Scott, a member of the bureau, said: "This Parliament is obsessed with rules and the general feeling is that these measures are unnecessary."

The European Parliament's bureau, comprising its President and 14 Vice-presidents on 11 April 2005 dropped a controversial proposal by the General Secretariat which would have allowed security staff to seize the tapes and other equipment of TV crews that breach rules governing their activities in the Parliament.