Bodu asks EP president, Martin Schulz to sanction UKIP's Nigel Farage behaviour

Sebastian Bodu MEP (EPP, Romania) requests the Speaker of the European Parliament, Mr. Martin Schulz, to submit a proposal for suspension or removal of the UKIP leader, Nigel Farage MEP, from the position of co-chair of the Europe of Freedom and Democracy Group, as a result of his statements regarding the "Romanian and Bulgarian crime wave" which would supposedly fall over the UK from January the 1st. Sebastian Bodu MEP considers that such rhetoric is irresponsible and even felonious because it incites to violence affecting people whose only guilt is speaking their mother tongue. "Moral authors will exalt and say that this was their fate", warned Bodu, "and the only one legally responsible will be the direct perpetrator".

The Romanian MEP relies on the Rule no. 9 of the Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament, according to which "the conduct of Members should be based on fundamental principles laid down in the basic texts on which the European Union is founded", situation that applies both inside and outside the House of the Parliament.

Independently of the request addressed to the Speaker of the European Parliament, Sebastian Bodu MEP declared that he would not be offended if Her Majesty's Government would find a way to preclude the entrance in the UK of the Members of the Romanian Senate who voted for themselves super-immunity. It is clear that such a vote will not enter into effect by becoming a law. Therefore “honest and hardworking people should not suffer because of criminals, including white collar ones", concluded Bodu.

Below, the request addressed to Mr Martin Schulz, Speaker of the European Parliament

Dear Speaker,

I would like to bring to your attention the anti-Romanian rhetoric escalation practiced by some members of the European Parliament with regard to working restrictions for the UK being lifted in January 2014. These statements were made by UKIP Members in the British press, especially by Nigel Farage MEP, leader of this party.

Firstly, I would like to explain the reason why I am addressing this complaint to you, namely that the provisions of Rule 9 of the Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament on Members' conduct applies not only within the legislative chamber but also beyond this. According to paragraph 2 of this rule, "the conduct of Members should be based on fundamental principles laid down in the basic texts on which the European Union is founded". This applies of course. A Member of the European Parliament should be bound by the values and principles no matter where he is. As the immunity of a Member is interpreted to be protected both inside and outside the Parliament premises, a pari, respecting the Rule 9 of the Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament should be mandatory on the same conditions.

If UK will consider leaving EU will be more than regrettable, but to inflame the British public opinion talking about "Romanian and Bulgarian crime waves" is not only an irresponsible attitude but also an irresponsible one that exposes Romanians and Bulgarians, already leaving in United Kingdom or those - just a few, in my opinion - coming after January 1st, to possible violence for which only the direct perpetrator will be responsible. Moral authors will exalt and will say that this was their fate. And, certainly, victims of such acts will not be criminals but normal people who just had the misfortune to use their native language. Therefore such an attitude is intolerable and should be punished not only by the UK national authorities but also the by the European ones, starting with the European Parliament. If there are Romanian criminals does not imply that all Romanians are criminals and Mr. Nigel Farage statistics are made in bad faith and misleading.

In conclusion, I request the Presidency to apply Rule 153 of the Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament against Nigel Farage MEP. According to this Rule, the President has the right to sanction the Members who violate the principles laid down in Rule no. 9, by applying the most severe of sanction, to measure the violation: submitting to the Conference of Presidents the proposal to suspend or remove him from the co-chair position of the Europe of Freedom and Democracy Group.

Sincerly Yours,

Sebastian Bodu MEP EPP Group

You may find here the link to the public declarations of Nigel Farage, MEP: