Request for the waiver of the immunity of Florian Philippot

The Committee on Legal Affairs unanimously adopted the report by Laura FERRARA (EFDD, IT) in which it recommended the European Parliament to waive the immunity of Florian PHILIPPOT (ENF, FR).

Members stated that a French court asked for the immunity of Florian Philippot MEP to be waived for the purposes of criminal proceedings instituted by Qatar (Mr Philippot is accused of having defamed that country by suggesting, in a radio programme broadcast on 9 January 2015 and in a television programme broadcast on 19 January 2015, that Qatar finances terrorism).

Recalling that Article 8 of Protocol No 7 on the Privileges and Immunities of the European Union stipulates that Members of the European Parliament may not be subject to any form of inquiry, detention or legal proceedings in respect of opinions expressed or votes cast by them in the performance of their duties, Members considered that the conditions for the waiver of Mr Philippot’s immunity are not met.

The committee noted that in general terms the purpose of parliamentary immunity is to allow the legislature to carry out its constitutional tasks without improper interference from outside, especially from the executive. That principle plainly holds equally good when criminal proceedings for defamation are instituted against a Member by a country outside the European Union.

Therefore, the committee on legal affairs recommended that the European Parliament should not waive the immunity of Florian Philippot.