14/04/99: European Commissioner Edith Cresson no longer welcome in Parliament
European Parliament decided today, on the basis of an amendment tabled by the EPP Group, that European Commissioner Edith Cresson is "persona non grata" in the European Parliament. In a resolution on the outcome of the heads of government Berlin summit Parliament voted in favour of the EPP Group initiative to declare "itself completely opposed to Commissioner Cresson remaining in office and states that it will not enter into any co-operation with her as long as she continues in office."
"She left us no choice" said EPP Group leader Wilfried Martens, "the heads of governments have decided to begin the nomination of the new Commissioners only after the European elections in June this year. This means that Mrs. Cresson will stay in office until the new Commission is put in place. This situation is unsatisfactory - to say the least.
Since Commissioner Cresson refuses to leave voluntarily, the only thing we can do now is to stop unilaterally all co-operation with her. Following today's vote she will no longer be invited in our Committee meetings or our conciliation meetings or other parliamentary fora. To put it bluntly, Mrs Cresson is no longer welcome in the European Parliament."
The EPP Group, supported by Liberals and Greens, carried the amendment by 264 votes against the Socialist and Communist Groups, 230 votes, who attempted to defend Commissioner Cresson.
Further Information from: Marianne Amssoms, Tel Belgian GSM 075 422 474
or Bob Fitzhenry, Tel Belgian GSM 075 49 33 56.
European Parliament decided today, on the basis of an amendment tabled by the EPP Group, that European Commissioner Edith Cresson is "persona non grata" in the European Parliament. In a resolution on the outcome of the heads of government Berlin summit Parliament voted in favour of the EPP Group initiative to declare "itself completely opposed to Commissioner Cresson remaining in office and states that it will not enter into any co-operation with her as long as she continues in office."
"She left us no choice" said EPP Group leader Wilfried Martens, "the heads of governments have decided to begin the nomination of the new Commissioners only after the European elections in June this year. This means that Mrs. Cresson will stay in office until the new Commission is put in place. This situation is unsatisfactory - to say the least.
Since Commissioner Cresson refuses to leave voluntarily, the only thing we can do now is to stop unilaterally all co-operation with her. Following today's vote she will no longer be invited in our Committee meetings or our conciliation meetings or other parliamentary fora. To put it bluntly, Mrs Cresson is no longer welcome in the European Parliament."
The EPP Group, supported by Liberals and Greens, carried the amendment by 264 votes against the Socialist and Communist Groups, 230 votes, who attempted to defend Commissioner Cresson.
Further Information from: Marianne Amssoms, Tel Belgian GSM 075 422 474
or Bob Fitzhenry, Tel Belgian GSM 075 49 33 56.
