Centre-right members of the European Parliament have written to the rival Greens/EFA group to demand answers over an ongoing scandal regarding alleged sexual-harassment.
In a letter leaked to Brussels Signal, 14 MEPs from the European People’s Party (EPP) have written to the European Greens’ parliamentary leaders Philippe Lamberts and Terry Reintke, requesting they answer questions surrounding allegations of sexual assault levelled at Malte Gallée.
Now-former MEP Gallée resigned on March 1 over the allegations but has continued to reject them outright, insisting he has done “nothing wrong”.
Led by German Christian Democrat Christine Schneider, the MEPs claimed that reports of sexual assault within the Greens group have “affected [members] deeply” and must now “be dealt with in a transparent manner so that such behaviour is not covered up or even tolerated”.
They go on to express particular concerns about claims these alleged assaults took place over an extended period of time, despite repeated assurances from the Greens/EFA group that it has voiced opposition in the past to any workplace harassment.
“When did you personally learn about the allegations and what measures did you take at what time?” the MEPs asked in the letter, sent on March 12.
“Why was this behaviour allowed to go on for more than two years?”
The representatives also asked whether the various mediation and counselling bodies within the European Parliament had been contacted yet, as well as whether the Greens actively encouraged those affected by these reports to contact those bodies.
“These bodies provide appropriate whistleblower and witness protection,” the letter read, while also claiming that the Greens’ leaders should be familiar with the institutions given their “public statements on the subject of harassment”.
“We expect an immediate response, as it is our duty to protect our employees,” the letter concluded.
Brussels Signal has approached Lamberts, Reintke, Gallée and Schneider for comment.
The European Union’s first directive on combating sexual violence against women has hit a roadblock after just 12 Member States were willing to define “rape” as the “absence of consent”. https://t.co/CIg5JF1XeC
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) January 18, 2024
