Strasbourg, 15/05/2002 (Agence Europe) - The Bureau of the European Parliament decided on three measures, Monday evening, of an ethical and security nature, to avoid the EP becoming a "springboard" for presidential elections, announced David Harley, spokesman for President Pat Cox.
The EP's Quaestors were asked by Mr. Cox to draw up a parliamentary "code of conduct", within two to three weeks to enable Parliament to suspend people guilty of aggression against MEPs. Rules will also be drawn up on the holding of press conferences to prohibit MEPs standing in presidential elections from speaking during election campaigns. In addition, when an MEP makes a declaration to the press, the members of other political groups will no longer be able to attend this conference, unless invited. Finally, it was proposed rendering the security perimeter around the European Parliament, in Brussels, permanent.
The Bureau was referred this question in reaction to the trouble that surrounded the convening, on 24 April, of a press conference by Jean Marie Le Pen (see yesterday's Europe, p.6).