"Is this the true face of the European Commission?"

Press Release
Metric Martyrs Defence Fund
12 noon 12th March

"Is this the true face of the European Commission?"

On Monday 7th March 2005 the Metric Martyrs Defence Fund received the following unsolicited, foul and abusive e-mail:
(I have added asterisks to the e-mail to avoid causing any offence)

Original messageFrom: "John M. Jones" john.jones@cec.eu.int
To: metricmartyrs@btconnect.com
Sent: Monday, March 07, 2005 5:55 PM
youre a bunch of f***ing luddites. Metric has to win cos thats what we learnt at school. Long live England. long live metric, with 5 metricunits names after Uk scientists and 2 Uk directors of the metre bureau. The imperialists are dead in the water. ps: what in hell are you actually defending? look at great countries like australia and new zealand if you cant stand europe. you luddites in england make me sick.

Although very rare, is not the first we have received, and it will probably not be the last. However, what is significant is that the e-mail address is a European Commission employee's address. It appears that Mr. John Jones works for the Translation Service in Brussels.
We have requested that the Secretariat General of the European Commission initiates an investigation as this is not the type of behaviour we would expect from anyone who is employed at the taxpayer's expense.

We intend to make an official complaint and have requested the assistance from the three North East MEP's, Martin Callanan (Cons), Stephen Hughes (Lab) and Fiona Hall ( Lib Dem). It is unusual in the North East that we have equal representation from the three main parties and we hope that their response to this type of behaviour by a Commission employee is one of unilateral condemnation.

It appears that there has been a very serious breach of the European Commission's Code of Good Administrative Behaviour

Objectivity and impartiality –
Staff shall always act objectively and impartially, in the Community interest and for the public good. They shall act independently within the framework of the policy fixed by the Commission and their conduct shall never be guided by personal or national interest or political pressure.

In a week when Vice President of the European Commission, Margot Wallstrom, is desperately attempting, on her website, to show the 'nice face' of the Commission, it appears as though Mr. Jones has exposed perhaps the true and unacceptable 'rear end' of the whole of the European Project.

Metric Martyrs Campaign Director, Neil Herron states, "It is rather distressing for us to receive such an offensive e-mail especially so close to the anniversary of Steven Thoburn's tragic and untimely death. We offered Mr. Jones the opportunity to apologise but he refused. His offensive, foul and abusive remarks are wholly unacceptable and are made even more astounding because of the nature of his employment. I will be amazed if he is allowed to remain in the employ of the Commission and paid for by the public purse. We expect nothing less than a full and thorough, transparent investigation into this gentleman's behaviour."

ENDS
Neil Herron
Campaign Director
Metric Martyrs Defence Fund
12 Frederick Street
Sunderland
SR1 1NA
Tel. 00 44 191 565 7143
Mob. 00 44 7776202045

Full text of all e-mail correspondence can be viewed here

http://www.metricmartyrs@btconnect.com/
http://www.neilherron.blogspot.com/

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