MEPs fight over Latin America

The hardline nationalist group of Identity, Tradition and Sovereignty (ITS) MEPs, which includes the Front National of France and the Flemish separatist Vlaams Belang, has been trying to find ways of raising its public profile after being blocked by other political groups from getting any committee chairmanships or other influential posts in the European Parliament. ITS group members Jean-Claude Martinez of France and Luca Romagnoli of Italy have organised a seminar on relations with Latin America and have invited ambassadors to the EU from south American countries.
Martin Schulz (pictured), leader of the Socialist MEPs, is not amused. He launched his own initiative on relations with Latin American countries last year and has now written to the Parliament's administration to complain that the invitations to the ITS seminar gave the impression that the event was organised by the entire Parliament rather than just being the initiative of one group. The ambassadors of Brazil and Argentina have said that they will attend, giving Schulz further reason to sulk.