STRASBOURG (France), July 2: Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi ruined his debut as head of the European Union on Wednesday when he stirred outrage by comparing a critical German lawmaker with a Nazi concentration camp guard.

Mr Berlusconi’s jibe, which he insisted was meant as an ironic joke, sparked fury in the European Parliament and embarrassed EU officials, overshadowing the presentation of Italy’s priorities for its six-month EU presidency, which began on Tuesday.

The outburst fuelled the doubts of those who have questioned the premier’s suitability to lead the 15-nation bloc, given the conservative billionaire-turned-politician’s legal problems and volatile character.

Mr Berlusconi later said he did not mean to offend German feelings, but he declined to retract the comment or apologize to Social Democratic MEP Martin Schulz.

The flare-up came after Mr Schulz criticized an alleged conflict of interest between the political role of Italy’s richest man and his extensive media empire, and deplored outspoken comments on immigration by Reforms Minister Umberto Bossi.

“Mr Schulz, I know there is in Italy a man producing a film on the Nazi concentration camps. I would like to suggest you for the role of Kapo. You’d be perfect,” Berlusconi exclaimed to jeers in the chamber.

Kapos were usually petty criminals, sometimes Jewish, used by Nazi German death camp authorities during World War Two to enforce harsh discipline on Jews and other inmates.

He refused to withdraw the remark when given the opportunity by EU Parliament President Pat Cox and at a news conference. But Berlusconi later told centre-right EU parliamentarians he regretted his words had hurt the feelings of the German people.

“I could not imagine that this would hurt the feelings of our friends the German people,” he told reporters. “I am sorry, I am saddened that there has been a misinterpretation.”

Cox called the incident highly regrettable and said the remarks “caused a sense of great offence among many MEPs”.

The Italian foreign ministry summoned the German ambassador on Tuesday for urgent talks. Earlier, the German government called in the Italian ambassador in Berlin to tell him that Berlusconi’s comments were “unacceptable”.

Mr Berlusconi said the MEP had insulted him and his country. He interrupted Mr Cox at a joint news conference by banging on the table imitating the manner in which some MEPs had barracked him.

The leader of the centre-right Liberal Democrat group in parliament, Graham Watson, said it was regrettable Berlusconi had not withdrawn “words which debase the presidency of the council and offend Europe”.

The incident marred what began as a suave introduction to the Italian presidency, with a carefully crafted, silken speech pledging to revive a stagnant European economy and rid the EU of a “Hamlet syndrome” of self-doubt in world affairs.

Mr Berlusconi vowed to give priority to boosting investment in pan-European transport and energy projects, research and development, and promote reform of member states’ pensions and welfare systems to meet the challenges of an ageing population.

“We cannot hide the fact that there are lasting weaknesses in our economic structures, which are characterised by growth rates that are much lower than those forecast,” he said.

His programme won cautious support from the parliament’s mainstream groups and from the executive European Commission, headed by his longtime domestic rival, former Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi.

But Berlusconi showed a different face in an impromptu summing-up reacting to MEPs’ criticisms of his legal problems, his media interests and his government’s immigration policies.

“We have just seen the presidency self-destructing on Day Two,” said Gary Titley, leader of British Labour MEPs.

“He started off very well and then, as soon as you put pressure on him, he loses it,” he said, adding that the EU could not rely on Mr Berlusconi to represent it on the world stage if he could not control his “Jekyll and Hyde” nature.

The Italian leader, who had been on trial for allegedly bribing judges over a 1980s business deal, has just rushed a law through parliament granting himself and other top state officials immunity from prosecution while in office.

Explaining his reaction to centre-right lawmakers, Berlusconi said he had been provoked by critics. But even a senior cabinet colleague, Deputy Prime Minister Gianfranco Fini, suggested he should apologize.

As the Italian leader began his opening address, some 15 Green lawmakers held up placards in Italian declaring “The law is equal for all” and “No godfather for Europe”. —Reuters