May 20, 2006 (ION) - Some Euro MPs have regretted the “wait and see” attitude to Ethiopia of the European Commission at a joint meeting of the commissions of the European Parliament in Strasbourg on 15 May, in the presence of Ethiopian opponents and members of NGOs. This criticism was formulated by, among others, the Italian chair of the Development Commission Luisa Morgantini (European united left) who deplored that “the European Commission did not act more forcefully” against the violations of human rights in Ethiopia. The Portuguese Socialist Ana Maria Gomes, former chair of the EU electoral observation commission to Ethiopia and bête noire ( Black beast) of Addis Ababa, reminded of “the arresting of its drivers and interpreters, violations of human rights and attempts at intimidation”. The Belgian Euro-MP Johan Van Hecke, although he belonged to the liberal faction of Commissioner Louis Michel, castigated the Commission’s action on Ethiopia, because it could “call into question the image of EU human rights policy”. On the other hand, Hélène Flautre (Green, France), pointed her finger at the “incoherent policy of the EU to Ethiopia” and qualified the absence of delegates to this meeting from the Ethiopian government as “irresponsible”. A representative of the European Commission assured the MPs that European observers will be present at the trials of opposition members in Ethiopia, while confirming the desire to continue regular political dialogue with Addis Ababa.
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