EU chiefs line up for Pope's funeral

EU president José Manuel Barroso will lead a delegation of European Commissioners to Italy on Friday to attend the Pope's funeral.

Barroso along with EU chiefs Danuta Hubner, Franco Frattini and Benita Ferrero-Waldner will attend the ceremony due to take place in Rome.

And in Brussels the EU institutions have agreed to lower flags as a mark of respect for John Paul II, according to a commission spokeswoman.

"The president decided in co-operation with the other institutions that the European flags on commission buildings will be at half mast," she said.

"The vast majority of member states have decided to fly their flags at half mast for different periods in different countries."

"As the Pope was a great European who has contributed to European reunification, the president considered it be a sign of respect on the day of the Pope's funeral."

In secular France, the decision to fly flags at half mast across the country has provoked outrage amongst some politicians.

Francois Bayrou, leader of the centre-right UDF group said it "does not correspond with the distinction made between spiritual convictions and political ... choices", reports French newspaper Liberation.

And Arnaud Montebourg, a Socialist MP called the decision an "attack on the fundamental rules of which separate the of the interests of the church and the Republic".

French president Jacques Chirac is due to attend the funeral, along with other heads of state and government from countries including Germany, Britain, Poland, Ireland, Hungary and the US.

• Previous article
• Next article