Liz condemns Berlusconi "Nazi" jibe

5.15.41pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 2nd Jul 2003

The EU Council President has refused to apologise for his "Nazi" insult.

MEP for the West Midlands Liz Lynne has condemned the comments of the new President of the EU Council in the European Parliament today.

In his response to the interventions of MEPs on his presentation of the Italian Presidency's programme, Mr Berlusconi addressed directly a senior German Social Democrat MEP, Martin Schulz. He said that a film was being made in Italy about the Second World War concentration camps, and that he would recommend Mr Schulz for the role of commandant. The remark caused uproar in the chamber and despite being given an opportunity to withdraw it, Mr Berlusconi refused to do so.

Commenting on the incident, Liz Lynne said:

"If this is the sort of behaviour we can expect from Silvio Berlusconi just one day in from his Presidency, then it does not bode well. In the European Parliament, we are used to working together on a cross-party basis. This kind of 'yah-boo' politics does nothing to further the interests of European citizens.

"I hope Mr Berlusconi will reflect on the uproar he has caused and take the opportunity to formally apologise at a future meeting of the European Parliament."