Prodi worried over ETA ‘separatist’ tag

Date: 21/02/02

By Martin Banks

ROMANO Prodi has expressed concern that TV news network Euronews refers to ETA as a Basque 'separatist organisation' rather than a terror group in its bulletins.

The European Commission president pledged to raise the issue with the station, which receives Community funding to produce EU information programmes, in a reply to a question by Spanish MEP José Pomés Ruiz.

The deputy's relatives have been victims of ETA violence. The Spanish presidency has also criticised the Lyon-based network, which broadcasts in seven languages to 120 million homes.

Prodi said: 'The Commission fully shares the concern raised by honourable members about the fact that Euronews has referred in its bulletins to the terrorist group ETA as a 'separatist organisation'.'

ETA - which stands for Euskadi ta Askatasuna (Basque Homeland and Freedom) - has waged a 30-year terror campaign, killing more than 800 people, in pursuit of an independent Basque homeland in northern Spain and south-west France.

EPP deputy Pomés Ruiz called on the Commission to take action against the station, adding: 'The reference to ETA as a separatist group offends the sensibility of all democrats.'

Euronews director Mark Adams responded to the criticism by insisting the station does refer to ETA 'where appropriate' as a terrorist group.

He added: 'We also consider it appropriate to describe ETA as a separatist group...as it is important for our viewers to understand the objectives of the organisation even if the methods it adopts are criminal.'

Romano Prodi, President of the European Commission, has expressed concern that TV news network Euronews refers to ETA as a Basque 'separatist organisation' rather than a terror group in its bulletins.