Half-mast flag idea daft and ignorant, say MEPs
They have demanded an apology for the remarks by Gunther Oettinger in the German daily Bild.
“There has been a suggestion of flying the flags of deficit sinners at half-mast in front of EU building,” he said.
“It would be just a symbol, but would still be a big deterrent.”
The European Commission distanced itself from his remarks when it referred to his “graphic language”, but said it was a “personal view” and a rather “far-fetched idea”.
MEPs have written a letter of complaint to European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso.
Mairead McGuinness, Ireland East Fine Gael MEP, is among those who have signed the letter.
“Were such a daft suggestion to be taken on board it would indicate that the EU had lost all sight of its principle ideals and goals,” she said. “It would be divisive and totally inappropriate, going against everything the EU was set up to achieve.”
She said the remarks suggested Mr Oettinger did not understand what the EU was about.
“Mr Oettinger’s remarks are irresponsible and immature. He should immediately withdraw his remarks and make a fulsome apology.”
Independent MEP Marian Harkin said his remarks were “misguided at best, dangerous and incendiary”.
Socialist Party MEP Paul Murphy described the comment as “truly astounding in its arrogance and ignorance”, and said “it is indicative of a commission and European establishment that is tied to a ‘stick and stick’ approach to impose fiscal austerity on working people across Europe”.
Labour MEP Phil Prendergast said the idea was half-witted and offensive.
“The so-called deterrent in his eyes is humiliation,” he said. “This is totally at odds with EU values, and unhelpful at a time when states most affected by the financial crisis struggle to get public acceptance for efforts to bring their debt under control.”
Fine Gael TD Joe O’Reilly, a member of the Oireachtas Committee on European Affairs and Leader of the Irish delegation to the parliamentary assembly of the Council of Europe, described the remarks as “unhelpful” and said many Irish people would find them “insulting”.
He said much has been done in rebuilding and strengthening Irish relationships at EU level, but that while Ireland was committed to working with EU members to resolve the international financial crisis, such remarks were beyond the pale.
Sinn Féin’s spokesman on European affairs, Pádraig Mac Lochlainn, condemned the comment and has written a letter of protest to Mr Barroso, demanding an apology from Mr Oettinger.
“This is an outrageous proposition for anyone to make, but for an EU commissioner to have made it is truly shocking and an insult to the Irish people,” he said.
“At a time when the EU’s fundamental principle of solidarity is being questioned daily, these sort of comments really are disgraceful.
“Our flag’s design itself is a testament to what working together to overcome differences can achieve. In my many meetings with EU colleagues, I have always found a deep and abiding respect for Ireland’s independence and culture and history.”
This is not the first time Mr Oettinger’s public remarks have landed him in trouble.
While minister-president of Baden-Wurttemburg for five years, he gave a eulogy for a predecessor who was forced to resign after allegations about his role as a naval judge in the Second World War.
Mr Oettinger said Hans Filbinger was an opponent of the Nazi regime and was unable to escape the constraints of the regime. His remarks were criticised as playing down the Nazi era.
