The European Parliament decided to waive the privileges and immunity Jane COLLINS (EFDD, RU).
Parliament recalled that the issue involves the defence of Jane Collins’ parliamentary privileges and immunities in relation to civil proceedings for libel against her before the Queen’s Bench Division of the High Court in London.
The request concerns, firstly, the defence of the right of Members of the European Parliament, under Article 7 of the Protocol, not to be subject to administrative or other restrictions on their free movement when travelling to or from the European Parliament. This part of the request relates to the fact that Jane Collins has allegedly been prevented from travelling to parliamentary meetings by the scheduling of the court proceedings being brought against her. However, it appears that Article 7 of the Protocol does not apply to restrictions arising out of legal proceedings.
The request also concerns Article 8 of the Protocol, whereby Members are defended from any form of inquiry, detention or legal proceedings in respect of opinions expressed or votes cast by them in the performance of their duties. In this respect, it appears that the claim of libel and slander concerns accusations that Jane Collins made at a party conference. The contested statements do not relate to Jane Collins’s duties as a Member of the European Parliament. Furthermore, they do not relate to her activity as a Member of the European Parliament or to the policies of the European Union, and were made in the context of national political debate.
Bearing these factors in mind, the European Parliament decided not to defend the privileges and immunities of Jane Collins.