The European Parliament ,

–   having regard to the request by Umberto Bossi for defence of his immunity in connection with an investigation which is currently being carried out by the Public Prosecutor's Office attached to the Verbania District Court, of 19 February 2009, announced in plenary sitting of 9 March 2009,

–   having regard to Articles 9 and 10 of the Protocol of 8 April 1965 on the Privileges and Immunities of the European Communities, and Article 6(2) of the Act of 20 September 1976 concerning the election of the members of the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage,

–   having regard to the judgments of 12 May 1964, 10 July 1986 and 21 October 2008(1) of the Court of Justice of the European Communities,

–   having regard to Rules 6(3) and 7 of its Rules of Procedure,

–   having regard to the report of the Committee on Legal Affairs (A6-0269/2009),

1.  Decides to defend the immunity and privileges of Umberto Bossi;

2.  Instructs its President to forward this decision, and the report of its committee responsible, immediately to the appropriate authorities of the Italian Republic.

(1) Case 101/63 Wagner v Fohrmann and Krier [1964] ECR 195, Case 149/85 Wybot v Faure and Others [1986] ECR 2391 and Joined Cases C-200/07 and C-201/07 Marra v De Gregorio and Clemente , not yet reported.