Brussels, 26/11/2004 (Agence Europe) - Speaking after the meeting of presidents of the EP political groups, which examined on Thursday the letter sent by Commissioner for Transport Jacques Barrot to the President of the EP on the subject of his conviction before being amnestied, President Borrell said: "A very large majority of the political groups accept the opinion of the legal service of the European Parliament according to which the vice-president designate was not legally required to disclose the amnesty from which he benefited. In the absence of a European criminal law, it is national legislation which applies". (EUROPE of 23 November, p.8). Josep Borrell also said: "In the future, the same majority believes that this kind of information should be brought to the attention of MEPs during the course of hearings of the Commissioners-designate".
During the meeting of the Conference of Presidents, the UK Independence Party member, Nigel Farage, who had raised the matter (EUROPE of 19 November, p.5), asked for an oral question to be put to Jacques Barrot during next week's plenary, but his request did not receive the necessary number of votes.