Following attempts by British and Polish extremist MEPs to wreck formal proceedings in the European Parliament today at the proclamation ceremony for the Charter of Fundamental Rights, Graham Watson, leader of the European Parliament's Liberals and Democrats condemned them as 'hooligans':

They are a disgrace to their countries   

Graham Watson

"British UKIP (as well as Euro-sceptic Conservatives) and Polish far right MEPs today brought the hooligan behaviour of the football stadium into the European Parliament", said Watson. "They are a disgrace to their countries."

About 20 MEPs tried to shout down the invited President of the European Council, José Socrates as well as Parliament President, Hans-Gert Poettering and Commission President José Manuel Barroso as they conducted the formal signature ceremony of the European Union's Charter of Fundamental Rights, agreed by Member States to guarantee basic rights across the Union, including the freedom of speech.

"Their behaviour suggests a political ideology which shows why these rights are so important," he concluded.