Brussels, 25/01/2002 (Agence Europe) - The European Parliament's Committee on Legal Affairs has postponed its vote on the parliamentary immunity of Forza Italia member Marcello dell'Utri. By 16 in favour, 14 against and 1 abstention, the members of the Committee decided Thursday, after a very lengthy debate behind closed doors, to request further explanations from Spanish judge Baltasar Garzon, who had asked for the lifting of the immunity of this close collaborator of Silvio Berlusconi. The members of Forza Italia (including the new chair of the Committee, Giuseppe Gargani) and the EPP managed this postponement against the will of the other political groups and the rapporteur, Neil MacCormick (British, Green), who wanted the adoption of a recommendation in favour of the lifting of Marcello dell'Utri immunity. The MEPs who decided not to vote on Thursday on the lifting of his immunity argued that the document provided by the Spanish magistrate to support his request did not clearly establish Marcello dell'Utri's involvement in what he is accused of and thus asked him for further "clarification", European sources explain.
At the same meeting, the Committee on Legal Affairs adopted a report, for now confidential, on the "immunity of members elected in Italy and practices of the Italian authorities in the matter". This report was drawn up because the Italian members of the EP are said to have complained on several occasions about the lack of respect in Italy of the absolute immunity that covers all that a deputy says in the context of his position, European sources explain. It is a question, notably, of clarifying the examination of these requests, as well as determining who the EP interlocutors are in case of a problem.
The Committee, moreover, postponed the examination of the request for the lifting of the immunity of Jean-Charles Marchiani (French, UEN).