Statement by&nbsp;Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), EPP Group Leader, asking all MEPs to condemn terrorism and answers by Martin SCHULZ, EP President and by Gabrielle ZIMMER (GUE/NGL, DE), GUE/NGL Group Leader during the EP plenary session (27-28 April 2016) in Brussels.

Brussels

statement

debate

plenary session

WEBER, Manfred (EPP, DE)

fight against terrorism (T)

SCHULZ, Martin (S&D, DE)

ZIMMER, Gabriele (GUE/NGL, DE)

Statement by Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), EPP Group Leader, asking all MEPs to condemn terrorism - Answers by Martin SCHULZ, EP President and by Gabrielle ZIMMER (GUE/NGL, DE), GUE/NGL Group Leader

SOUNDBITE (German), Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), With regards to Rule 186, 11.2 of our Rules of procedure; yesterday from the Plenary Chamber we asked for a moment of silence for the victims of terrorism. This was an initiative from Ms Teresa JIMENEZ from my group, and the backdrop for that minute of silence was the fact that there is a group in the EP, the GUE group, which invited a former ETA member, Mr Otegui, a former terrorist was invited by the GUE group to speak and to discuss with the group. The colleagues from the EPP wanted to check that this was actually the case; given the backdrop of the victims of terrorism it's an provocation in view of those who died in terrorist attacks that a former terrorist was invited to come here and speak, and that was particularly aggravated by the fact that we experienced terror on our doorstep here just a few months ago. This is something that we cannot allow to continue, we as Parliament have to stand for democracy, for peace and we stand united against terrorism.

SOUNDBITE (German), Martin SCHULZ, EP President, I have received a lot of correspondence on this matter but individual cases brought by members or groups being allowed in the Parliament are neither within my remit but in the remit of other bodies, unless there are serious criminal reasons which are adduced by Member states. I can understand your point I can empathise as I said but I can take no action against that individual invitation which is a matter of political judgment of individual members or individual groups when deciding whether they wish to invite certain persons or not.

SOUNDBITE (German), Gabriele ZIMMER (GUE/NGL, DE), GUE Group Leader, First of all, we are all together in the fight against terrorism, we stand together, period. Secondly there has to be a possibility for people who have decided in favour of the peace process and who actively engage in it, that we are able to involve them in the democratic debate in this parliament, thank you.

MEP Teresa JIM&Eacute;NEZ-BECERRIL BARRIO, (EPP, ES), expressing her emotions over loosing her brother who has been assassinated together with his wife by the ETA.