Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2003-06-30-Speech-1-044"
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"en.20030630.7.1-044"2
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"Mr President, I also agree with the rapporteur’s conclusions, though more the conclusions than the analysis which leads to them, since I believe Mr Camre’s immunity should not be lifted.
I would, however, like to make two or three observations: firstly, that I share – as others have said – the distaste which I believe we all feel at the nature of the opinions expressed by Mr Camre. However, I believe that it is our duty and a matter of our honour not to take them into account.
It is true that for several years a tendency has emerged within the Committee on Legal Affairs and the Internal Market and more generally in this Parliament, aimed at protecting MEPs’ opinions or the MEPs against whom proceedings are brought as a result of opinions or attitudes which may arise from a political point of view, in the broadest possible sense.
I believe we must defend this tendency and affirm it; that is what this report must do. It must be affirmed in this report and in others, all the more so because while Members of Parliament have particular responsibilities, one would have to be blind not to observe that they are also exposed in a particular way. We must take account of this exposure and the risk it poses to prominent figures in public life today: the almost systematic challenging of the responsibilities of local elected representatives and the no less systematic legal action against Members of Parliament as a result of the opinions they may express. I believe we must take account of this development and protect the Members of Parliament, not really in order to protect the individuals, but rather the institution, its independence and its freedom.
At a time when we find ourselves increasingly in a democracy of opinion, it is essential that we take measures to allow Members of Parliament to express themselves freely and to make their opinions known free from pressure, including pressure of a legal nature. This is the approach which has been taken by the Committee on Legal Affairs and by this report. That, I repeat, is why I agree with this request to preserve Mr Camre’s immunity, regardless of the reservations, regardless of the distaste we feel for the opinions of the Member."@en1
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