Veteran MEP bows out after 29 years in EU

Danish eurosceptic MEP Jens-Peter Bonde has brought thecurtain down on a distinguished parliamentarycareer.

Bonde, one of the longest-serving MEPs, has decided to call it aday and leaves parliament for the last time on Thursday after thisweek's plenary.

Parliament's former president, Irish Liberal Pat Cox, led tributesto Bonde, who, with UK deputy Nigel Farage, was co-president of theIND/DEM group.

Speaking in parliament, Cox, who now heads the European movement,said, "Though our views clearly did not always converge, I havealways found him to be pleasant and stimulating company."

His comments were echoed by the assembly's current president,Hans-Gert Pöttering, who said he wished Bonde well in thefuture.

Both Pottering and Bonde are among only a handful of sitting MEPswho were elected in 1979, the year when parliament held its firstdirect elections.

Bonde, who had a retirement party in parliament on Wednesday night,is not leaving politics altogether and will now work with theEUDemocrats party in Denmark.

Before he left, he set out a ten-point 'legacy' in which heidentifies what he sees as the most needed reforms and changes forthe EU.

These include an end to "secretive" public servant legislation, theintroduction of elections to all leading EU offices and moretransparency on MEP expenses.

ID members, meanwhile, have unanimously asked Irish MEP KathySinnott to take up the position vacated by Bonde.

She agreed to accept the post at a meeting of the group onWednesday and immediately said she will continue to push for a‘more democratic and transparent Europe’.

In a statement, she wished Bonde “every success” in the future andthanked him for his “pioneering” work these last 29 years.

She said, "He has been a staunch campaigner for transparency anddemocracy in the EU. He has consistently worked to steer Europe inthe right direction for its citizens."

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