EU should not pay for one-sided debate

3.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 29th Aug 2007

London Liberal Democrat MEP Baroness Sarah Ludford has added her voice to protests to European Parliament President Hans-Gert Poettering against the Parliament's hosting of a conference which is likely to present a one-sided view of the Israel-Palestinian situation undermining the legitimacy of Israel .

The EP authorities have given permission for the UN's 'Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People' (CEI) created in 1975 in the context of the infamous 'Zionism is Racism' resolution, to hold a conference in its Brussels premises on August 30th-31st. The Parliament - taxpayers - will bear the interpretation and other costs.

Sarah Ludford said:

"It is very shrewd of the organisers to have sought a home in the politically and symbolically important venue of the EU's parliament, and very foolish of senior MEPs to have allowed themselves to be exploited in this way."

"Of course the European Parliament does not and should not shy away from controversial and passionate debate. But MEPs must always take care to preserve a balance of views and I fear this is not the case on this occasion."