WRITTEN QUESTION E-0780/01 by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Council. Government coalitions with extreme right-wing parties.
Date: 2001-03-15
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Austria, Italy, extreme right, political coalition, politics

C 340 E/92

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

4.12.2001

The Commission is monitoring closely any new scientific development in relation to possible trans-
missibility of transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) agents to other farmed animals including
fish. In this context, the Commission has not been informed of particular health problems affecting farmed
fish fed with meals of animal origin. However, the Commission is currently supporting a project in the
framework of the TSE Action Plan for research which looks into the potential transmission of bovine
spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) and scrapie to fish. Preliminary results are expected soon and they will
be evaluated accordingly.

(1) OJ L 363, 27.12.1990.
(2) OJ L 306, 7.12.2000.
(3) OJ L 58, 28.2.2001.

(2001/C 340 E/106)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0778/01

by Raffaele Costa (PPE-DE) to the Council

(15 March 2001)

Subject: Recent statements by the Belgian foreign minister

The Council:

1. Will it condemn the bizarre statements made by the colourful Belgian foreign minister, Louis Michel,
concerning possible sanctions against Italy in the event of the Casa delle Libert(cid:224) party winning the
forthcoming elections there?

2. Will it ask the Belgian minister to refrain from attending Community meetings?

Reply

(13 July 2001)

It is not for the Council to comment on statements such as those referred to in the Honourable Member(cid:146)s
question.

(2001/C 340 E/107)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0780/01

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Council

(15 March 2001)

Subject: Government coalitions with extreme right-wing parties

If Silvio Berlusconi, chairman of Forza Italia and a member of the EPP group in the European Parliament,
is elected prime minister of Italy, this will show whether the European Union is consistent in its attitude
towards Member States. The EU is at risk of applying double standards and it is beginning to look as if
there is one set of rules for the large Member States and another set for the small Member States. The next
few months will show whether this is so.

Forza Italia can only come to power with two coalition partners which both have much in common with
the Austrian FP(cid:214) of J(cid:246)rg Haider. His leading ally, and probable deputy prime minister, Gianfranco Fini of
the Alleanza Nazionale, has built his party on the ruins of the old Fascist movement. Although the
Alleanza Nazionale has been at pains to distance itself from its extremist origins, the party still cherishes
the legacy of the Mussolini era. The similarity with Haider(cid:146)s Nazi sympathies is striking.

4.12.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 340 E/93

Hence, Europe will shortly be faced with a political dilemma: is the Union prepared to apply the same
criteria to the larger Member States? Last tear the Austrian FP(cid:214) formed a coalition with the conservative
(cid:214)VP. The fact that a populist party with a xenophobic reputation was able to come to power in an EU
Member State caused an upheaval amongst the other fourteen Member States.

If an extreme right-wing party, the Alleanza Nazionale, forms part of the government after the next
elections in Italy, will the Council apply the same measures that were applied on the formation of the
(cid:214)VP-FP(cid:214) coalition in Austria? If not, why is the Council applying double standards to the formation of
a government coalition with an extreme right-wing party in Austria (FP(cid:214)), on the one hand, and Italy
(Alleanza Nazionale), on the other?

(2001/C 340 E/108)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0819/01

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Council

(28 March 2001)

Subject: Coalition governments incorporating extreme right-wing parties

If the leader of Forza Italia and PPE Member of the European Parliament Silvio Berlusconi is elected as the
new prime minister of Italy, it will become clear whether the European Union is consistent in its attitude
towards Member States. The European Union is in danger of adopting double standards. It is beginning to
look as if there is one rule for the big Member States and another for the small ones. In the next few
months we shall discover whether this is indeed the case.

Forza Italia can only come to power in alliance with two coalition partners, both of which have important
elements in common with J(cid:246)rg Haider(cid:146)s FP(cid:214) in Austria. One of them is Umberto Bossi(cid:146)s Lega Nord. On
the margins of the NATO summit on Wednesday, 28 February, the Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs
referred to the Lega Nord(cid:146)s leader as (cid:145)a fascist(cid:146).

Thus Europe will shortly face a political dilemma: is the Union prepared to apply the same standards to
medium-sized and large Member States? Last year the Austrian FP(cid:214) formed a coalition with the
conservative (cid:214)VP. The other 14 Member States were shocked to see a populist party with a reputation for
xenophobia come to power in an EU Member State. Austria was subjected to a political sanctions regime
which involved suspending bilateral diplomatic contacts.

Will the Council apply the same standards if a party whose leader has been described by the Belgian
Minister of Foreign Affairs as (cid:145)a fascist(cid:146), namely the Lega Nord, forms part of the Italian Government after
the forthcoming elections, by analogy with the measures adopted upon the formation of the (cid:214)VP-FP(cid:214)
coalition in Austria? If not, why is the Council applying double standards to the formation of coalition
governments which include a party of the extreme right in Austria (FP(cid:214)) on the one hand and Italy
(Lega Nord) on the other?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-0780/01 and E-0819/01

(13 July 2001)

The Council reminds the Honourable Member that the measures concerning Austria to which he refers
were decided by the governments of 14 Member States and not by the Council.