[PRESSTV] Lawmakers in the European Parliament have called for an external investigation into growing claims that the chamber has become a hotbed for sexual harassment.The call for the external probe by five MEPs came on Tuesday following a report by the British newspaper Sunday Times, which said that female staffers working in the European chamber had been subject to widespread sex abuse by European politicians.
The five MPs also called on a special committee set up to investigate sexual harassment claims in the legislative body to help the alleged victims and bring those responsible for the tragedy to justice.
The Times newspaper cited serious allegations about MEPs committing harassment against female workers. It kept the names of the alleged perpetrators secret, although it did mention Yves Cochet, a former French environment minister and Green party MEP.
The report said the European Parliament had become a "hotbed of sex harassment," citing widespread instances of MEPs groping their assistants from behind or taking photos from them and sending them at night.