Brussels, 28/03/2003 (Agence Europe) - During a press conference held on 27 March, the MEP Marco Cappato a (Italy, Lista Bonino), spoke about his aspirations in the wake of his early release from prison (see EUROPE of 25 March, p. 6, concerning his act of civil disobedience for possession of a small amount of cannabis). The MEP is leading a campaign for the "antiprohibitionist" reform of UN conventions on drugs He is hoping that the draft resolution on the reform, which was prepared by the Committee on Citizens' Freedoms and Rights, will be approved on 8 April during the European Parliament's plenary session in Strasbourg. The resolution urges the EU Council to take the opportunity, during the 16 and 17 April conference in Vienna (called to consider a mid-term review of UN drugs policies), to call for a root-and branch reform of the pacts. Mr Cappato stressed the urgent need to "find a government willing to propos the formal launch of reforms so as to enable the states to apply alternative drug policies".
During the latest plenary session, Roberto Bigliardo (UEN, Italy) asked on Wednesday what was the point of Parliamentary immunity if it could not prevent the arrest of Marco Cappato. The Italian radical Maurizio Turco reminded the house that the MEP Marco Pannella had been sentenced to four months detention, commuted to eight months of mandatory supervision, for similar reasons (civil disobedience for possession of drugs) He has to report all of his movements and he cannot spend more than seven days outside Italy. His travels abroad are mainly for the purpose of visiting the European Parliament, said Mr Turco.