28/09/2006 (Agence Europe) - The leaders of the EPP-ED and ALDE groups in the European Parliament Hans-Gert Pöttering and Graham Watson have condemned the racist attacks by Dimitar Stoyanov, Bulgarian observer at the European Parliament for the ATAKA party, on Livia Jaroka (EPP-ED, Hungary). Mr Pöttering notes that in the EP Ms Jaroka represents between 10 and 15 million Roma. Doris Pack (CDU) raised the issue in plenary session on Thursday, and Messrs Pöttering and Watson called for sanctions. Ms Jaroka is a candidate for the 2006 “MEP Awards”, which annually reward the best European parliamentarian. Mr Stoyanov sent emails that were insulting to the Roma. On Thursday evening, he apologised, while at the same time making similarly offensive comments, such as: “In Bulgaria, gypsy girls are sold by their parents like objects”, “in Bulgaria, gypsies are paid to go and vote”.