September 30, 2011 - 6:55AM

"Idiot in Brussels" ... Amadeu Altafaj Tardio.

The BBC has apologised to the EU after a Brussels official was repeatedly called an "idiot" when taking part in a flagship news broadcast on the eurozone debt crisis.

TV bosses said they contacted European Commission economic affairs spokesman Amadeu Altafaj Tardio to apologise for "discourtesy" that led him to walk off the Newsnight show during a video-link appearance from Brussels on Wednesday night.

The clip turned into an internet hit - and piled on discomfort for Britain's state media giant, already under fire for an interview with a self-styled independent trader who claimed bankers were "dreaming of another recession" so they can make more money.

The Commission, the EU civil service central in international negotiations to prevent the eurozone crisis from turning into a global economic catastrophe, had earlier demanded a formal apology.

Portuguese national Altafaj joined a discussion panel including Peter Oborne, a noted eurosceptic columnist primarily associated with Britain's Daily Telegraph newspaper.

In what commission insiders viewed as an ambush, he was asked by star presenter Jeremy Paxman at the start of the debate: "Would you like to apologise, Mr Altafaj Tardio, for the lack of European leadership in this crisis?"

Altafaj defended the "political project" that is the creation of the eurozone in 1999, arguing that economics alone were not the reason to proceed with successive bailouts for Greece, Ireland and the Portugal.

When Oborne then came in, he referred to Altafaj up on the screen as "that idiot in Brussels."

Paxman, known for his tough questioning, then turned to the commission's representative and said: "Mr Idiot in Brussels, would you like to respond?"

Altafaj ignored Paxman's comment and stuck to his official line - defending his boss, Finland's Olli Rehn.

But then Oborne repeated the word "idiot", although Paxman butted in to say "will you stop referring to 'this idiot'," warning Oborne that such language was "offensive".

However, when Oborne repeated the attack yet again, viewers could clearly see Altafaj gently remove his ear-piece and walk off his Brussels set in the background.

"The basis for all work and certainly of our approach to the media is respect and professionalism - which was not respected in this case," Commission spokeswoman Pia Ahrenkilde said on Thursday during a break from the serious business of Altafaj welcoming Germany's ratification of new powers for the EU's eurozone rescue fund.

"Obviously we are waiting for those concerned to transmit their apologies," she said, adding that by midday, only "oral" regret had been conveyed.

A BBC spokeswoman later said a further apology had been issued.

"This was a heated, live debate regarding the European debt crisis about which there are strongly held views and positions," BBC spokeswoman Helen Deller said.

"We certainly do not advocate Mr Oborne's comments regarding Mr Altafaj Tardio and Jeremy did robustly challenge him, criticising his treatment of the other guests.

"Jeremy also pointed out his behaviour meant the opportunity to further explore the European Commission's position was lost.

"We have apologised to Mr Altafaj Tardio for the discourtesy he was shown," she added.

The BBC was already on the defensive on Thursday over claims that self-styled trader Alessio Rastani, who told BBC 24 "Goldman Sachs rules the world", was part of an organised hoax.

The broadcaster said it was satisfied he was not a hoaxer.

AFP



Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/business/world...#ixzz1ZNjD5odV

This British Eurosceptics always amaze me for their stupidity...

- They always point to "Sweden, Norway and Switzerland" as examples of wealthy countries outside the Euro or the EU altogether, that prosper nevertheless....they always forget to add that Sweden, Norway and Switzerland are managed by Swedish, Norwegian and Swiss people, not Brits...Scandinavians and Swiss people are 100 times better in managing their countries than the Brits.
It's not a matter of being in the EU or not, it's a matter of mentality.
Are they really so stupid to believe that, if the UK would leave the EU tomorrow, suddenly all problems in the UK would be fixed, thanks to their honest and transparent politicians? Ahahahahah...
We all know the enormous difference between how the Norwegians managed the revenues of their oil reserves, and how the Brits did (mis-manage the revenues of Scotland's oil reserves). But of course it's the EU's fault...

- What is exactly the alternative to the EU? I always hear moaning, moaning, moaning about "The Eurocrats are not nice with us, uuaaaahhhh....", at the level of kindergarten children...but not a single time I hear constructive proposals!!!!!! What is the alternative, everyone for himself, and nuclear missiles pointed at each other? Or even worse...become an economic and cultural colony of the US (like that we aren't already tied enough)?
The few times that there have been attempts of further political integration in the EU...everything has been blocked by some stupid narrow-minded Eurosceptic

- If you Brits don't like to stay in the EU...the exit door is always open, nobody is forcing you to stay. We don't need you, you are just the trojan horse of the US in Europe. Keep worshiping your cocaine-sniffing bankers, the ones that create "jobs jobs jobs" and should not be taxed...

- The Swiss model cannot be applied to the rest of the EU: We cannot turn the entire continent into a money-laundering machine (and even pretend to be cleaner than the others).

P.S.: Europhobes living in Switzerland should be banned from doing border shopping, since they hate the EU and love Switzerland...I bet nobody has the intellectual honesty to do that.

You sound so angry Marco.

I suggest a nice cup of (English) tea to help calm you down.

I have lived here over 22 years and have NEVER been outside Switzerland for shopping of any kind.

Were the British population given a referendum on EU membership, the UK would be out of that socialist dream without further moaning. The EU is rapidly reaching the buffers as the German generation who feel the guilt of the World War II fade away.

You support for the corrupt EU is admirable, but sadly misplaced. But I find your anti-British rants funny. Keep it up...

Here's the TV programme on youtube:

So, effectively you're saying you'd be happy with Britain out of the EU and many Brits would agree with you. So, what's your argument? You seem a little angry towards us Brits, why is that? Is it because, maybe, we're not so stupid after all and can see the corrupt, inefficient, ineffective and unsrupulous EU for what it really is?
What you fail to grasp is that Eurosceptics don't hate Europe, or the countries within that geographical region, we just detest the whole concept and bureaucracy associated with the EU as an organisation.
Quite frankly, I find your anti-British rant somewhat distasteful.

PS Thumbs up for Peter Oborne

Hmm, staying in the EU just keeps getting better and better..

The EU, even by there own corrupt standards , have truly f***ed the Euro ....
Greeks who wont pay taxes , governments lying about the parameters needed

I'm not sure that is the UK's fault - but the countries within the EU , who are defrauding people.Go and point the finger at Greece, Spain, Ireland, Italy and Portugal

Shh, I think Marco is Italian.

Sweden is in the EU, for the time being.....
The money laundering done in Switzerland is ,for a large part, on the account of European tax evasion.
The UK s nett contribution to the EU since is accession is what has kept the European budget going.
You are clearly raving so a weak argument is expected but its best to get the facts right to earn respect for an otherwise totally misplaced position.

To be honest after reading his posts I think he is not angry at all. He is just winding up all the Brits and doing a pretty good job judging by the groans and moans he is getting.

Advice to all the Brits drink a nice cup of Indian/Sri Lankan tea....I mean English tea Just sit back and enjoy his posts for what they are.....free online entertainment

Well, after watching it I can only agree with Oborne. Tardio was just reciting mindless propaganda babble but he did not contribute anything substantial or interesting to the discussion.

Peter Oborne was on question time last night. The guy is a complete moron. The comments about Thatcher went down awesomely in Liverpool, what a c***..(btw I never use that word but I detest the guy that much.) Point scoring on newsnight now this?!

No statistics to back up what he's saying just spews out the usual "we hate the EU" line.

I can respect the Euro-Sceptic angle if he came up with a intelligent and persuasive argument. Which is exactly what the pro EU members of the panel did last night making the guy look like someone just released from the lunatic asylum.

There are problems with the UK in the EU and they need to be fixed, rather than banging on about the same old crap. Yes perhaps leave but give us a reason to do that with clear arguments.

The UK govt can learn a lot from the EU in how to treat workers, family rights and many other areas. Shame our govt is not coming up with laws to protect rights and the well being of it's population.

Regardless of what the muppet thinks of the EU he should treat a person with respect regardless of what that individual does for a day job. I would sue the idiot for defamation of character.

Typical Daily Mail/Torygraph columnist who spew their crap on a daily basis to those who are uneducated in this extremely complex area.

I don't think the UK is the only large contributor to the EU, still 850bn in bank bailouts and rising makes the EU costs look like pocket change.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk...t-1833830.html

That was Dec 2009 the cap will be out within the next year yet again mark my words

Until a year or so ago it was one of only two nett contributors, along with Germany AFAIK

Actually there were more nett contributors. In terms of gross contributions UK is in the top 3. In terms of nett the UK comes after the Netherlands if I recall correctly.

When I cross the border from Switzerland I don't end up in the EU, but I end up in Germany, Italy, France or Austria. These are still four (very) different countries with different cultures, different atmospheres, different languages, different restaurants, different foods, different goods in stores and supermarkets, etc. despite the wet dreams of the globalists and the Eurocrats of turning them into an EU superstate run by unelected bureaucrats.

And guess what? I enjoy spending time, eating out and shopping in each single one of those countries. I actually love Germany, Italy, France and Austria yet I despise the EU in its current form. So you're telling me I shouldn't visit or shop in countries I like just because I don't like the EU?

I suspected that he was not anglo saxon ....
And a bit of a troll ....

That guy Peter Oborne is a disgraceful fat pig!

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/da...nding-to-work/

The one man that speaks sense in Brussels

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnH9cFA9Eks