Protesters set to be 'fined'

You got to love the EU, unable to have its accounts signed off due to corruption for the last 13 years, now they try to slap down the few who dare to speak for the gagged masses.

Up to a dozen MEPs could have their daily attendance allowance withheld for up to ten days from next month, it has emerged.

It follows noisy protests in parliament last December against the EU reform treaty which brought proceedings to a standstill.

Some 50 MEPs of both Left and Right and from several countries, unfurled banners emblazoned with the word “Referendum”.

The protest was part of an ongoing campaign for national referendums on the treaty agreed by EU leaders in December.

In the wake of the demonstration, which took place during the signing of the charter of fundamental rights on 12 December in Strasbourg, it has emerged that some of those taking part may now face disciplinary proceedings.

They will be ordered to appear before the assembly’s president, Hans-Gert Pöttering later this month to explain their behaviour.

A spokesperson for Pöttering said he will then decide what action to take but this could include either a formal reprimand or a forfeit of their daily subsistence allowance of €279.

According to parliamentary rules, the allowance can be withheld for between two and ten days.

The spokesperson said that only those MEPs who had refused the president’s request to halt their protests face possible action.

Several group leaders deplored the “football hooligan” behaviour of those MEPs who, as one put it, “had shown contempt for the dignity of parliament”.

**I find the whole EU beneath contempt, most of all the way it walks over national parliaments.

Opening this week’s Strasbourg session, Pöttering said, "For the citizens of the EU and also parliament, this was an important event.

“However, a number of MEPs protested vociferously and even attempted to prevent speakers from speaking.

“This was an infringement of freedom of speech and a breach of parliament's rules of procedure.”

He said measures would, therefore, be taken against those members and the same would apply to those MEPs who had treated parliament's ushers "in an unacceptable manner".

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