(2 Jul 2003) VOICED BY VERA FRANKL

0000 Various Italian Prime Minister and EU President Silvio Berlusconi arriving at EU parliament
0013 Various Berlusconi inside parliament
0026 Berlusconi begins his speech
0031 Various Green party members holding up placards
0037 SOUNDBITE: (English) Pat Cox, European Parliament President:
0051 Berlusconi
0053 Various wide shots of parliament
0057 German socialist Martin Schulz
0103 EU commission President Romano Prodi
0108 UPSOUND: (Italian) Silvio Berlusconi, Italian Prime Minister
0122 Schulz
0128 Berlusconi
0130 Pat Cox
0132 Berlusconi
0139 Various of assembly
0144 VISION ENDS
STORYLINE:
Launching his country's European Union presidency, Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi provoked uproar on Wednesday in the European Parliament by telling a German critic that he should take a movie role as a Nazi concentration camp guard.
The remark drew a rebuke from the parliament president, Pat Cox, who suspended the session after the flamboyant Berlusconi refused to withdraw his comments.
VOICE OVER:
0002
Silvio Berlusconi arrived at the parliament in Strasbourg to outline his government's plans for the European Union presidency.
0011
Italy assumed the rotating presidency on Tuesday, the same day a Milan court suspended Berlusconi's trial for bribery.
0018
The trial was halted after the Italian Parliament pushed through legislation granting legal immunity to top Italian officials.
0026
As Berlusconi began to address the parliament, proceedings were interrupted by seven Green party members holding up placards saying, "Everybody is equal under the law."
0037 SOUNDBITE: (English) Pat Cox, European Parliament President:
Colleagues, you've made your point, could I ask now please to respect the dignity of the proceedings, to put those postcards and messages away and allow us to hear in dignity the message of the Italian presidency".
0052
But the drama continued.
0054
During a question and answer session after Berlusconi's speech, German socialist Martin Schulz, referred to the Italian leader's use of an immunity law to sidestep bribery charges.
0105
Berlusconi's retaliation outraged the EU assembly
0108 UPSOUND (Italian) Silvio Berlusconi, Italian Prime Minister
0111
"Mr. Schulz, he says, I know there's a producer in Italy who's making a film on the Nazi concentration camps. I will suggest you for the role of commander. You'd be perfect."
0122
Schulz responded by saying that Berlusconi's remarks demonstrated he was unfit to represent Europe.
0128
Berlusconi refused to apologise insisting that his remark was an ironic joke.
0133
But his Nazi gibe to a leading German lawmaker gives fresh ammunition to his many critics in Europe who allege that he's unfit for the EU's top job.

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