Rowdy MEPs to be told: one hit and you are out

By Martin Banks

Date: 15/09/05

The European Parliament has taken the first step towards adopting tougher disciplinary measures against MEPs who misbehave during plenary sessions.

A draft report by French MEP Gérard Onesta (Greens/European Free Alliance), which recommends new sanctions, was widely welcomed by the assembly's constitutional affairs committee yesterday (14 September).

The proposed new measures include issuing offenders with just one warning about their behaviour.

Onesta's report suggests that a repetition of any unruly behaviour could result in the member being excluded from the chamber for up to 20 days and the subsequent loss of his or her €262 daily allowance for a maximum of three months.

The deputy would, however, still be allowed into meetings to vote during the period of suspension and financial penalty.

At present, Parliament has what some regard as a limited armoury of measures to deal with indiscipline by members during plenary sessions.

Offenders can be issued with a public reprimand by the president, currently the Spanish MEP Josep Borrell, who can then issue up to three warnings to the member before he or she is expelled from the hemicycle.

The maximum period of suspension for causing a disturbance during proceedings is currently five days.

Reformers hope the proposed new measures will help address a problem of declining standards of behaviour among the 732-strong assembly.

Concern about discipline was expressed following several recent incidents, notably by some Polish and Italian MEPs and some members of the Independence/Democracy group.

UK Socialist MEP, Richard Corbett, a member of the constitutional affairs committee, said: "We have got to strike the right balance. Members must retain the right to express themselves in a vigorous and sometimes colourful way but without doing so at the expense of the dignity and smooth functioning of the parliament."

The full plenary is expected to vote on the proposals at its November session in Strasbourg.

European Parliament: Committee on Constitutional Affairs: Meeting, 14.9.05: Meeting documents http://europarl.europa.eu/meetdocs/2004_2009/organes/afco/afco_20050914_0900.htm

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