Brussels, 09/12/2003 (Agence Europe) - By adopting on Thursday two reports by the MEP of the Scottish Nationalist Party Neil MacCormick, the European Parliament have refused the demands presented by Radicals Marco Cappato and Olivier Dupuis in defence of their privileges and immunity.
Mr Cappato had complained about the refusal of a French investigating judge to return certain documents and objects seized at the home of a third party. The documents in question concerned "rave parties" and campaigns in support of the legalisation of drugs, as well as caps with pro cannabis slogans on them. No charges have been made against the MEP, notes the rapporteur, who does not see whey the President of the Parliament should be called on to defend the privileges and immunity of the MEP.
In the case of Mr Dupuis, a Belgian elected on the Lista Bonino in Italy, the Parliament has followed the line of its rapporteur and its former jurisprudence on anti-prohibitionist demands. It is therefore refusing to defend the immunity of the MEP, who took part in a non-violent act of civil disobedience in Rome in 1997 during which he distributed free hashish.