Brussels, 09/12/2009 (Agence Europe) - A group of MEPs and members of the European Parliament delegation for cooperation with Palestine, headed by Proinsias De Rossa (S&D, Ireland) and on a visit to the Palestinian territories from 7-10 December (particularly those controlled by the Israelis), is protesting against the refusal to grant them entry visas to Gaza.
They had to wait until Tuesday to have Israeli authorisation for entering the territory surrounded by the Israeli army but this authorisation was refused three hours later and explained only by security reasons. In a press release published in Ramallah, where they were due to hold a press conference at the end of the day, MEPs stated: “We received the news of the visa cancellation with regret and consternation”. In an effort to formalise their protest, they have approached the presidency of Parliament and the high representative for common security policy, Ms Ashton. MEPs also stated on Tuesday: “It is extremely curious that the cancellation of visas took place a few hours following the Council of Ministers of the EU's declaration”.
As well as Mr De Rossa, the delegation consists of Kyriacos Triantaphyllides (GUE, Cyprus), Potito Salatto (EPP, Italy), Rosario Crocetta (S&D, Italy), Alexandra Thein (ALDE, Germany), Nicole Kiil-Nielsen (GREENS/EFA, France), Robert Atkins (ECR, United Kingdom) and Georgios Toussas (GUE, Greece). (F.B./transl.fl)