MEPs to seal agreement on committee chair jobs

While the membership of committees was confirmed by MEPs in Strasbourg on the 3 July 2014, the election of their chairs would only take place a week later, on the 7 July 2014, during their constitutive meetings.

Nigel Farage, leader of the UK Independence Party (UKIP) criticised the process by stating that his Eurosceptic group, EFDD, had been denied a chairmanship it deserved. The European Greens backed Mr Farage in the allegations.

Udo Voigt, the former leader of the German neo-nazi NPD, took a seat on the Parliament’s Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee, outraging the European Parliament President Martin Schulz, anti-racism campaigners and Jewish organisations.

• Primary Source

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ESO: Background information: Towards a new European Parliament [2014 - 2019] http://www.europeansources.info/record/towards-a-new-european-parliament-2014-2019/

ESO: Background information: Eurosceptics make controversial return to EU Parliament http://www.europeansources.info/record/eurosceptics-make-controversial-return-to-eu-parliament/

EurActiv, 07.07.14: Neo-Nazi takes seat on Parliament Civil Liberties Committee, Schulz furious http://www.euractiv.com/sections/eu-elections-2014/nazi-takes-seat-parliament-civil-liberties-committee-schulz-furious

EUObserver, 07.07.14: Pro-EU forces shut out eurosceptics from Parliament top jobs http://euobserver.com/news/124884

EurActiv, 07.07.14: Pro-EU parties shut out Farage's EFDD from committees http://www.euractiv.com/sections/eu-elections-2014/pro-eu-parties-shut-out-farages-efdd-committee-chairs-303340

EurActiv, 09.07.14: Neo-Nazi’s EU Parliament appointment ‘ultimate insult’ to Jews http://www.euractiv.com/sections/eu-elections-2014/neo-nazis-eu-parliament-appointment-ultimate-insult-jews-303380

BBC News, 11.07.14: France fears waning EU influence http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-eu-28243937

EurActiv, 16.07.14: Le Pen won't hijack TTIP committee, vow MEPs http://www.euractiv.com/sections/eu-elections-2014/trade-meps-vow-stop-le-pen-grandstanding-ttip-303504

EurActiv, 18.07.14: Sweden wants a Commissioner portfolio only dealing with human rights http://www.euractiv.com/sections/migrations/sweden-wants-commissioner-portfolio-only-dealing-human-rights-303556

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