EURO-MP APOLOGISES TO COLLEAGUES AFTER DRUGS FIND

STRASBOURG, France, - A senior member of the European
Parliament found with cannabis and a sex video in his suitcase
apologised to the European Union assembly on Monday and said he had
acted foolishly.

Tom Spencer, suspended from Britain's Conservative group in the
Strasbourg assembly after the discovery late last month, told
colleagues his act had been one "of extraordinary foolishness".

"I would like to make it clear that those who would use my stupidity
to attack Europe and its parliament that the fault is mine and mine
alone...I offer my apologies to parliament," Spencer told the assembly
as it gathered in Strasbourg for its monthly plenary session.

Spencer, chairman of the parliament's high-profile foreign affairs
committee, said his acts "were rooted in love", but he realised they
could have caused offence to colleagues.

The parliament's president, Jose Maria Gil-Robles said Spencer had
spoken with dignity and courage.

"He and his family have paid a heavy price for what is a personal
matter," he said.

Spencer was hugged and consoled by several members of his
parliamentary group after speaking.

Spencer paid an on-the-spot fine of 550 pounds ($905) to customs
authorities after his suitcase was opened at London's Heathrow Airport
when he returned from France two weeks ago.

Spencer, whose attitude to the European Union is markedly more
positive than that of his sceptical party, has been a member of the
Strasbourg parliament since 1979, representing the prosperous county
of Surrey just south of London.