Motion for a resolution - B6-0548/2008Motion for a resolution
B6-0548/2008

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

17.10.2008

pursuant to Rule 113 of the Rules of Procedure
by Marco Cappato, Marco Pannella, Vittorio Agnoletto, Vincenzo Aita, Alexander Alvaro, Alessandro Battilocchio, Costas Botopoulos, Philippe Busquin, Paulo Casaca, Giusto Catania, Fabio Ciani, Mojca Drčar Murko, Richard Falbr, Claudio Fava, Umberto Guidoni, David Hammerstein, Sophia in 't Veld, Pierre Jonckheer, Jelko Kacin, Sajjad Karim, Alexander Graf Lambsdorff, Johannes Lebech, Jo Leinen, Pia Elda Locatelli, Sarah Ludford, Ramona Nicole Mănescu, Luisa Morgantini, Roberto Musacchio, Bill Newton Dunn, Vittorio Prodi, Giovanni Rivera, Aloyzas Sakalas, Gianluca Susta, Britta Thomsen, Patrizia Toia, Adina-Ioana Vălean, Johan Van Hecke, Donato Tommaso Veraldi, Johannes Voggenhuber, Renate Weber and Gabriele Zimmer
on the risk of further breaches of the principles of democracy and the rule of law in Italy

B6‑0548/2008

Motion for a European Parliament resolution on the risk of further breaches of the principles of democracy and the rule of law in Italy

The European Parliament,

–  having regard to Rule 113 of its Rules of Procedure,

A.  whereas since 9 June 2006 the placeplaceItalian Constitutional Court has been operating without the constitutional plenum of 15 members,

B.  whereas the Constitution strictly lays down the number of members of the placeplaceConstitutional Court and stipulates that, in the event of a vacancy arising, for whatever reason, it must be filled within one month,

C.  whereas since the elections of 13-14 April the bicameral parliamentary vigilance committee, which is responsible for steering and monitoring the public broadcasting service, has not yet elected its chairman; whereas it is therefore not in a position to carry out the duties conferred on it by the law, and this has direct repercussions on the proper operation of the public broadcasting service, denying political parties regulated access to political broadcasting and news services over several months,

D.  whereas the Constitutional Court and the vigilance committee have a vital role to play in the Italian political system, in guaranteeing respect for the rule of law and democracy,

E.  whereas the paralysis of Italian institutions has now become a recurring phenomenon, irrespective of the government's political make-up,

1.  Calls on the Council, pursuant to Articles 6 and 7 of the TEU, to determine the existence of a clear risk of further serious breaches of the principles of liberty and democracy in placeplaceItaly.