Allied Journal


Protests against EU Corruption
07 Oct 2003

Protesters greeted Silvio Berlusconi as he addressed the European Parliament in Strasbourg Wednesday, marking Italy's takeover of the EU presidency for six months.

About 15 Green members of the European Parliament held placards in various languages saying "all equal under the law" as the Italian prime minister began his speech and told politicians: "There's a great deal of moral and intellectual responsibility on our shoulders."

Berlusconi will oversee the rotating presidency having been condemned by opponents for changing the judicial system and making himself immune from prosecution, while on trial for allegedly bribing judges. (Full story)

The conservative, a media magnate and allegedly the richest man in Italy, has been dogged by a series of corruption cases in the Italian courts.

The billionaire who faces various charges including bribing judges, money laundering, tax evasion, and false accounting, has lately persuaded Italy's parliament to back a series of measures designed to freeze proceedings against him and to prevent him facing further charges while he remains in office

This, along with his wide-reaching business interests, drew criticism at the weekend from some European newspapers. (Full story)

And his new role with the EU presents a potential clash with European Commission President Romano Prodi, a fellow Italian and a political opponent.

Berlusconi told the parliament Europe needed to stimulate more wealth, invest in technology and push through labor and pension reforms.

He will be expected to supervise closer cooperation among the 15 members as the union embraces reform and enlargement, preparing the institutions to cope with 10 new countries next year.

But squabbles continue in several areas: the plan for an elected president of the European Council to replace the present rotating six-month presidency; proposals to slim down the EU Commission to 15 voting members even though there will be 25 countries in the EU from May 2004; and plans to trim the number of policy areas in which countries are able to exercise a national veto.

Asylum and immigration policy is in a state of flux. And Europe is struggling to finalize a deal on reforming the controversial Common Agricultural Policy, which eats up nearly half of the EU budget.

Protesters greeted Silvio Berlusconi as he addressed the European Parliament in Strasbourg Wednesday, marking Italy's takeover of the EU presidency for six months.

About 15 Green members of the European Parliament held placards in various languages saying "all equal under the law" as the Italian prime minister began his speech and told politicians: "There's a great deal of moral and intellectual responsibility on our shoulders."

Berlusconi will oversee the rotating presidency having been condemned by opponents for changing the judicial system and making himself immune from prosecution, while on trial for allegedly bribing judges. (Full story)

The conservative, a media magnate and allegedly the richest man in Italy, has been dogged by a series of corruption cases in the Italian courts.

The billionaire who faces various charges including bribing judges, money laundering, tax evasion, and false accounting, has lately persuaded Italy's parliament to back a series of measures designed to freeze proceedings against him and to prevent him facing further charges while he remains in office

This, along with his wide-reaching business interests, drew criticism at the weekend from some European newspapers. (Full story)

And his new role with the EU presents a potential clash with European Commission President Romano Prodi, a fellow Italian and a political opponent.

Berlusconi told the parliament Europe needed to stimulate more wealth, invest in technology and push through labor and pension reforms.

He will be expected to supervise closer cooperation among the 15 members as the union embraces reform and enlargement, preparing the institutions to cope with 10 new countries next year.

But squabbles continue in several areas: the plan for an elected president of the European Council to replace the present rotating six-month presidency; proposals to slim down the EU Commission to 15 voting members even though there will be 25 countries in the EU from May 2004; and plans to trim the number of policy areas in which countries are able to exercise a national veto.

Asylum and immigration policy is in a state of flux. And Europe is struggling to finalize a deal on reforming the controversial Common Agricultural Policy, which eats up nearly half of the EU budget.



 

 


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