Press and Photo Gallery
European Parliament to Play EU Anthem
Brussels, 11th September 2008 -- MEPs are preparing to make desultory and sycophantic changes to their rules today, to play the European anthem in the parliament's chamber, and recognise EU symbols and flags at European Parliament buildings across the EU, Timothy Kirkhope MEP, Conservative constitutional affairs spokesman, warned.
The Constitutional Affairs committee has today backed proposals that would make the parliament recognise the EU flag, play Beethoven's 'Ode to Joy', celebrate Europe day and print the parliament's 'United in diversity' motto on all documents.
The inclusion of the symbols into the rules of procedure was originally part of the doomed EU Constitution but omitted from the Lisbon Treaty.
Mr Kirkhope, who voted against, said:
"This rule change is utterly pointless and sycophantic. MEPs do not understand that these displays of EU nationhood underline the real ambitions of some MEPs to create a European superstate."
