Banners flag up MEPs' grey image

The European Parliament has long faced jibes that it is a grey institution filled with grey individuals, but even hardened cynics were surprised to find the colourful national flags which usually adorn the facade of its Brussels headquarters replaced by grey ones last week. The 63 sombre flags had apparently been hoisted in honour of Brussels 2000 and officials were quick to insist that the EU's only directly-elected body remained an extremely colourful place.