EU flags to fly at half mast

The European Union institutions have agreed to lower flags as a mark of respect for John Paul II, whose funeral is on Friday.

"The vast majority of member states have decided to fly their flags at half mast for different periods in different countries," European Commission spokesman Françoise Le-Bail said yesterday.

"As the Pope was a great European who has contributed to European reunification, the President (of the Commission) considered it be a sign of respect on the day of the Pope's funeral."

This decision, considered as very rare in the EU's history, did not go down well in secular France and has provoked outrage among some politicians.

Francois Bayrou, leader of the centre-right UDF group, said the EU's decision does not correspond with the distinction made between spiritual convictions and political choices.

Commission President José Manuel Barroso will lead a delegation of European Commissioners to Italy on Friday to attend the Pope's funeral.

The details were given during yesterday's daily Commission briefing in Brussels.

Mr Barroso, accompanied by his wife, will lead the Commission delegation which will include Polish Regional Development Commissioner Danuta Hubner, Italian Justice Commissioner Franco Frattini and Austrian External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner.