EFA Group President Ian Hudghton MEP (Scottish National Party) has welcomed the decision of László Tőkés MEP to join the EFA Group in the European Parliament, part of the Greens/EFA Parliamentary Group. The decision was approved at a meeting of the group held today.

László Tőkés was elected to the European Parliament in November 2007 as an independent member representing the Hungarian community in Romania. He has been Bishop of the Reformed Church in Oradea since 1990 and is a long standing defender of human rights and civil liberties in Romania. Bishop Tőkés was a strong critic of Ceausescu and attempts by the totalitarian regime to remove him from his post as an assistant pastor in Timisoara and evict him from his home helped trigger the events that led to the Romanian revolution of 1989.

Welcoming the move, Ian Hudghton MEP commented:

"It's a pleasure to welcome László Tőkés to the EFA Group. Although only an MEP since November last year, he has already gained a reputation as a strong advocate for human rights and civil liberties.

"His peaceful opposition to the former totalitarian regime in Romania is well known and widely respected. He undoubtedly has a very important contribution to make as a member of the European Parliament."

László Tőkés MEP said:

"I am pleased to have been welcomed to the EFA group in the European Parliament. Defending the rights of linguistic and national minorities in Europe, with a clear emphasis on fairness and social justice, is a clear priority for the EFA group. This new association will I'm sure be mutually beneficial as I continue my work in the European Parliament for the former communist countries of Central and Eastern Europe, the general good of Romania and the wider Hungarian community."

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