Berlusconi ruins EU debut with Nazi jibe

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi ruined his own debut as head of the European Union yesterday when he stirred outrage by comparing a critical German lawmaker with a Nazi concentration camp guard.

Mr Berlusconi's jibe, which he insisted was meant as an ironic joke, sparked fury in the European Parliament and embarrassed EU officials, overshadowing the presentation of Italy's priorities for its six-month EU presidency, which began on Tuesday.

The outburst fuelled the doubts of those who have questioned Mr Berlusconi's suitability to lead the 15-nation bloc, given the conservative billionaire-turned-politician's legal problems and volatile character.

Mr Berlusconi later said he did not mean to offend German feelings, but he declined to retract the comment or apologise to Social Democratic MEP Martin Schulz.

The flare-up came after Mr Schulz criticised an alleged conflict of interest between the political role of Italy's richest man and his extensive media empire, and deplored outspoken comments on immigration by Reforms Minister Umberto Bossi.

"Mr Schulz, I know there is in Italy a man producing a film on the Nazi concentration camps. I would like to suggest you for the role of Kapo. You'd be perfect," Mr Berlusconi exclaimed to jeers in the chamber.

Kapos were usually petty criminals, sometimes Jewish, used by Nazi German death camp authorities during World War Two to enforce harsh discipline on Jews and other inmates.

He refused to withdraw the remark when given the opportunity by EU Parliament President Pat Cox and at a news conference. But Mr Berlusconi later told centre-right EU parliamentarians he regretted his words had hurt the feelings of the German people.

"I could not imagine that this would hurt the feelings of our friends the German people," he told reporters. "I am sorry, I am saddened that there has been a misinterpretation."

Mr Cox called the incident highly regrettable and said the remarks "caused a sense of great offence among many MEPs".

The Italian Foreign Ministry summoned the German ambassador late yesterday for urgent talks. Earlier, the German government called in the Italian ambassador in Berlin to tell him that Mr Berlusconi's comments were "unacceptable".

Mr Berlusconi said Mr Schulz had insulted him and his country. He interrupted Mr Cox at a joint news conference by banging on the table imitating the manner in which some MEPs had barracked him.

The incident marred what began as a suave introduction to the Italian presidency, with a carefully crafted, silken speech pledging to revive a stagnant European economy and rid the EU of a "Hamlet syndrome" of self-doubt in world affairs.