Intimidation and Bullying from Eurocrats towards British MEPs in Brussels

[Winterbiscuit]

British MEPs subjected to campaign of intimidation in Brussels

"Last night, disgruntled Eurocrats were seen approaching British MEPs outside the parliament building, one passing a sarcastic note ‘congratulating’ them on Brexit. ‘Remain on your island! No pity!’ the note said."

"The ‘United Kingdom’ sign that hangs above MEPs’ post boxes in the European Parliament was ripped down by a furious Eurocrat"

"British officials reported being thrown out of meetings unrelated to Brexit. One was ejected from a session discussing development projects in Ethiopia because he worked for a Eurosceptic MEP."

"In another incident, European colleagues sought to intimidate British officials by chanting, ‘leave, leave, leave".

"One official, who was abused by a Eurocrat on the train from London to Brussels, told MailOnline that the man launched a foul-mouthed rant after overhearing him speaking in English. ‘He was flicking his fingers in our faces and shouting, “you’re a f*ing disgrace”,’ the official said."

"Some party leaders have warned their MEPs to ‘keep their heads down’ after minor scuffles on the Eurostar and outside EU buildings ‘could have turned nasty’."

"David Cambell Bannerman, a Conservative MEP, said: ‘These attacks are pretty despicable. European nationalism is a serious problem. It has got incredibly vindictive since we voted to leave.""

"According to officials working for British MEPs, the tone was set by the president of the European parliament, Martin Schulz, who sent a round-robin email to British workers in Brussels which some interpreted as promising jobs in return for ‘loyalty’."

"‘I am worried that I have been tainted by working in a British office,’ said one Polish member of EU staff. ‘We are being asked to prove our loyalty to the EU or our careers will not survive.’"

Roger Helmer MEP said "‘We are seeing the beginning of a spiteful, dirty tricks campaign designed to make life difficult for the British in Brussels, simply because we voted to leave the EU".

Dan Hannan MEP said "This has been going on in a more moderate form for years. There is always a loud round of applause in the European parliament whenever people are disparaging Britain. Now we are just seeing it in an unmuzzled, intensified form."

"‘It rather explains why people voted for Leave in the first place.’"

""British officials reported being thrown out of meetings unrelated to Brexit. "

Er, yes, was there a part of 'no longer having a say in Europe' that Brexiters didn't understand?

Er, yes, was there a part of 'no longer having a say in Europe' that Brexiters didn't understand?

We haven't begun the process of leaving the EU yet, so unless the meetings are to do with Brexit then the UK MEPs should still be fully included.

OP, have you got another source for this that is not the daily mail?

That graffiti is signed in Russian BTW. Not that that means anything.

I live and work in Brussels and have seen and heard nothing but kind remarks, concern, sympathy and solidarity from my European colleagues.

Gastropod I even got a smile in Colryut today!

Goodness me! I thought nobody smiled in Colruyt, ever (except when they discover the free chocolates out for tasting!)

We haven't begun the process of leaving the EU yet, so unless the meetings are to do with Brexit then the UK MEPs should still be fully included

Now that's an interesting question. What role should UK MEPs and officials play in decisions that may well not affect them in the future? It's a kind of West Lothian question.

That graffiti is signed in Russian BTW. Not that that means anything.

Maybe it was the Russian MEPs that made it

I have friends working for the institutions and haven't heard of anything like this. In fact, one who works at the Commission shared a friendly email from Juncker reassuring them about their jobs.

I wonder if this is a story about EU in the style of Boris Johnson?

Another fictional Daily Mail story pretending to be news.

Sorry, you lost me at 'MailOnline'

I've definitely never supported Farage or defended UKIP's stance on immigration, absolutely not! He is entirely responsible for his own actions and words. But I don't think it's justified for the Eurocrats to behave badly towards other British workers in Brussels, just because of him.

In a democracy, politicians choose to stand as representatives of the people. If this means occasionally that have to take the slings and arrows directed at their people, then that's part of life.

That's fine if it's robust debate, but intimidation, bullying and threats shouldn't be any part of it.

The poor people being abused in the streets stand for no one but themselves.

Absolutely, and I'm completely with you on how unacceptable the recent displays of racism have been. Supporting Brexit does not make someone racist, or justify racism at all, and there will be a good deal of both Brexiters and Remainers wearing safety pins, stepping in if it's safe to do so etc.

All the racist and xenophobic abuse. Of course there's going to be a backlash.

I don't get the impression the Eurocrats are protesting about racism on the streets of Britain. I think their "backlash" is anger that Britain dares to want to leave the EU.

This x100 the crying victim is diabolical, I can only imagine that Farages etc racial superiority complex is short of planetary!

You think that people who expect not to be bullied and harassed at work are "crying victim"? It's happening to British MEPs of any party, who are just trying to get on with their job. I'm certainly not a fan of UKIP/Farage, I prefer the left-wing reasons for leaving the EU.

Of course everything in the Daily Mail is the truth......

I've never said that, and have discussed articles from a variety of newspapers and other sources on this forum. If you can find the story reported elsewhere, I'd be interested to hear it from other angles.

As professional and considerate as the Brexit campaign I take it?

There have been many discussions about the shortcomings of both the leave and remain campaigns. Surely those qualities should be upheld in Brussels nevertheless?

someone removed the sign? Maybe because it's no longer needed?

Not so, as the leaving process hasn't begun yet.

Jesus, the Europeans must think we are utter cunts. We slag them off for years, whinge, complain, elect MEPs who actively wreck and undermine all cooperation, then finally stick two fingers up by voting to leave, followed by an incredibly insulting speech, and mass racist attacks against EU citizens back in the UK.

And then we complain they don't like us anymore - WTAF!!!

Well put Tikes!

Tikes, I think there's been a misunderstanding. At no point have I said that I support Farage or have sympathy for him, let alone "celebrate" him! My comment that Farage shouldn't be blamed for the behaviour of Eurocrats, was poorly worded and definitely not in his defence. He's got a lot to answer for. I meant that IMO, despite all the unacceptable things Farage says/does, EU workers are still ultimately responsible for their own behaviour, and should remain courteous to their many British colleagues who've done nothing wrong. Farage doesn't represent the other British men and women working in Brussels, or me, or you. And yes, of course those in difficult situations deserve much support, recognition and compassion. I'm sorry if I've offended you, or anyone else on this thread, it certainly wasn't the intention.

Winter, you're embarrassed at finding yourself on the same side as Farage, aren't you? Good. You should be.

Frankly you should be embarrassed at starting such a whiny and entitled thread when we, the British, have treated our erstwhile European friends in such a disgusting manner.

you're embarrassed at finding yourself on the same side as Farage, aren't you?

No, because he's irrelevant to me and most other ordinary leave supporters. There were negative personalities on both sides but he's been given so much coverage that people wrongly think he was more important than he is.

From the article, I gathered that staff from any political party, and non-politicians, were being harrassed. "The anger hasn't been confined to Eurosceptic MEPs". It didn't say which party some of them were from, but it gave the impression that any British woman or man, whether from Green/Labour/LibDem/Tory/UKIP or any other group could potentially be on the receiving end.

we, the British, have treated our erstwhile European friends in such a disgusting manner.

Leaving the EU isn't "disgusting" and Britain fully intends to maintain good relationships with European countries.

You're right Winter, the article does give that impression doesn't it....without giving any specifics or names/places that could be checked against, you know, facts! Maybe that's because the article is a pack of lies or at best self serving spin.

Threads like this really do nothing but confirm people's opinion that those on the Leave side are credulous populists who are both utterly irresponsible and unconcerned with the truth.

As a non Brit can I say that you really have a fucking cheek to suggest abuse on these grounds or in this manner from other eu countries. We don't all operate at your level you know.

Of course I'm concerned with the truth, that's why I posted for discussion. Dan Hannan was quoted, with interesting comments on the situation. I thought he spoke a good deal of sense in the run-up to the referendum. There's nothing populist or irresponsible about him and I'd be inclined to trust information he gives.

WinterBiscuit, start reading proper newspapers.

Which leftie pro-Brexit broadsheet would you recommend? That's the problem

Yes..

Quite a problem!

The problem is, heres a good example from an article that popped up earlier today on another thread we were debating;

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/06/21/leavers-are-deceiving-their-voters-about-the-pain-that-europe-co/

Now end of second para down, the 'very senior brussels bureacrat'

He paused, before adding with an unmistakable glint in his eye: “Oh, yes, we can be very nasty indeed, if want to be.”

Strangely enough, the journalist, enjoying repeating the moment, was so intent on the remain agenda of the article and indeed clearly enjoyed the added threat to support his remain agenda, it becomes acceptable.

These are the bureaucrats the remains so desperately wished to keep. This behaviour is absolutely acceptable to them. 'What boo hoo MEPs? What did you expect MEPs?' Im so glad the remains so easily threw out the right to work without threats, harrasment, or intimidation when the situation suited.

This behaviour is in Brussels, in the EU council, the heart of the EU 'democracy' and home of human rights...... not the streets of Bradford. Says it all really.

Now do we call them ignorant, or very well informed, racists?

No Chris you call them imaginary. There is no evidence that any of it is happening. It doesn't matter which side is generating fairytale since they are just that.

Unlike the very well documented and independently verified racist attacks taking place in the UK.