Brussels, 31/01/2013 (Agence Europe) - The far right formations at the EP - the Europe of Freedom and Democracy Group, where Marine Le Pen has a seat, and the European Alliance of National Movements (EANM) - may soon lose their European subsidies. That, at any rate, is the objective that the leader of the S&D Group at the European Parliament, Hannes Swoboda of Austria, has in mind. In recent days, he has managed to collect 220 signatures from MEPs from four different groups, a spokesman for the group said on 30 January, calling on Martin Schulz, in a letter, to inform the conference of presidents. The latter was expected to discuss the matter on Thursday 31 January.
A regulation of the EP makes suspension possible. According to rules of procedure, once the signatures of 25% of MEPs have been collected, then the speeches of the formations in question are analysed and the procedure for suspending funding is launched if those groups are found not to respect the fundamental values of the EU.
The European of Freedom and Democracy Group includes members of the Austrian FPÖ and the Belgian Vlaams Belang, and Marine Le Pen is the vice-president. The group also includes members of the British UKIP party.
The EANM includes the Hungarian Jobbik, which became known for its anti-Roma action, and the British National Party (BNP). (SP/transl.jl)