Dear Mr. President,

We, the undersigned Members of the European Parliament, hereby stress our strong opposition to Mr Timmermans’ opinion, which he expressed in the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs in the European Parliament recently.

Our colleague, Mr Marek Jurek, presented his views on the European Commission's actions towards Poland, and asked about the broader context of President Timmermans' human rights activities, and thus the scope of duties that Vice-President Timmermans is carrying out in the Commission.

Mr Jurek asked especially about a commonly known fact about the French law on prohibition of counteracting abortion arguments and elements of censorship of public expression that it contains (in the context of article 11 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union) and also (in the context article 2 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union) about Mr Timmermans’ reaction to the most drastic effect of the euthanasia law in the Netherlands last time - a death of woman who was euthanized without her consent and with her active opposition.

First Mr Timmermans made a comment about the questions in a coarse way. The question was repeated with a request to disclose his point of view (approving or critical) to these facts and Mr Timmermans refused to answer, expressing indignation that such questions are asked at all.

Considering that the issues of the right to life and freedom of speech are central problems to the debate on human rights in Europe - we would like to express our deepest indignation at the attitude of the Vice-President of the Commission.

The fact that we are representing a small European Party (but very active in many countries) constitutes an additional charge against Vice-President Timmermans’ behaviour, because we recall that protecting minority rights is one of the fundamental responsibilities of the European Union.

Yours sincerely,

 

Arne GERICKE MEP (ECR/ECPM)
Kazimierz UJAZDOWSKI MEP (ECR/ECPM)

Bastiaan BELDER MEP (ECR/ECPM)