EU sex abuse SHAME: Brussels investigators move in after glut of sexual harassment claims

MEP Terry Reintke & European Parliament Me TooGETTY

The European parliament has been rocked by the sex abuse scandal

The situation is so serious the European Parliament has announced it will hire a team of external investigators to look into allegations of longstanding and widespread sexual harassment.

And politicians vowed to end the “culture of silence” after the bloc was shamed in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal.

A series of high-profile allegations of sexual harassment, assault and even rape have rocked the 28-member union after they came to light as part of the #MeToo social media campaign. 

The hashtag, which has gone viral globally, is encouraging women to report abuse – and has seen more than 30 women employed within the EU come forward to reveal a culture of misogyny and abuse.

MEPs in Strasbourg have voted on emergency measures including changing the rules and setting up a task force of independent experts to tackle the “culture of silence”.

The wide-reaching resolution will clean up Brussels’ act, as officials vowed to overhaul procedures to stop the sick practice of harassment, support victims and ensure “zero tolerance” of harassment.

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Combating sexual harassment also includes awareness-raising campaigns and tackling the issues of under-reporting and social stigma, according to the resolution passed by 580 votes to 10, with 27 abstentions.

Antonio Tajani, the speaker of the parliament, said he was shocked to hear of the allegations and pledged to “inflict the harshest punishment possible” on guilty MEPs.

Me Too signs at European ParliamentGETTY

The Me Too hashtag is encouraging women to report abuse

I know that this house tends to cover things up to protect its reputation but this time we will not allow for that

Terry Reintke, a female MEP


Several women have come forward as part of the #MeToo movement which has evolved from allegations Hollywood movie mogul Harvey Weinstein raped multiple women and sexually harassed many more over a 30-year period.

Jeanne Ponté, assistant to French MEP Edouard Martin, last week revealed she has a notebook detailing a total of 50 instances of men working in the European Parliament behaving inappropriately towards her or a colleague since July 2014.

The 27-year-old claimed one of the most shocking times was being sent photos of herself which she had no idea had been taken.

She told Le Figaro: “A political adviser sent me photos of myself in the middle of the night, taken without my knowledge at a meeting.

“He keeps insisting on inviting me to dinner, despite my refusals.

“Another time a member of Parliament who blocked my way at the end of a conference, grabbed my waist, asked me if I had been here a long time and if I wanted to drink coffee with him.

“Another member asked me point blank if my tights are Chantal Thommass or Le Bouget – he has never commented on how one of my colleagues is dressed!” 

Brussels-based news website Politico said 87 women and six men working for the EU have told them about being harassed, and more than two dozen women have approached The Sunday Times with accounts of sexual abuse.

But the perpetrators, who are all over the age of 50, cannot yet be named as the victims refuse to make their allegations public for fear of legal repercussions.

European ParliamentGETTY

MEPs in Strasbourg have voted on emergency measures to tackle sex abuse

#MeToo movement in EUGETTY

Several women have come forward as part of the #MeToo movement

Mr Tajani encouraged victims of “inappropriate behaviour” to denounce their harassers immediately, and it is believed at least two women so far have filed official complaints.

Terry Reintke, a female MEP from Germany’s Greens alliance who is driving the campaign, said there were “sexual assaults on a regular basis in the European parliament” and that she herself had been harassed.

The 30-year-old added: “The external investigators should be people who have dealt with the issue in other big institutions.

“If there is no public pressure and no media scrutiny the parliament will do little. I know that this house tends to cover things up to protect its reputation but this time we will not allow for that.”