Addressing the European Parliament in Strasbourg Mr Berlusconi suggested that a German MEP should play the role of a Nazi concentration camp commandant in a forthcoming movie.
The Burlesconi Quote File.
Europe had been bracing itself for this moment. Silvio Berlusconi, the billionaire media magnate and Italy's Prime Minister is, for the next six-months the figurehead of the European Union, as Italy takes over the EU's rotating presidency.
In the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Mr Berlusconi was greeted by green Party MEPs protesting at how he'd passed laws to cut short his own trial. "One law for everyone" and "No godfather here," read the signs.
Instead of a stately review of his plans for Europe, Mr Berlusconi was soon off attacking his critics. Italian judges were the enemies of justice, the Italian media were incredibly tough on him - even the TV stations he owned - the heckling and slow handclapping grew.
Silvio Berlusconi, Italian Prime Minister:
"In Italy the newspapers, but above all the TV - that still belongs to my family - are among our sternest critics."
As the jeers continued:
Silvio Berlusconi, Italian Prime Minister:
"If you intend to behave like this while listening to the President you should visit Italy as tourists. You are behaving like tourists, tourists of democracy."
And then Mr Berlusconi had this for a German Social Democrat MEP.
Silvio Berlusconi, Italian Prime Minister:
"I know in Italy there is a producer working on a film on Nazi concentration camps. I would like to suggest you for the role of leader. You'd be perfect !"
Martin Schultz MEP:
"My respect for the victims of fascism will not allow me to accept that kind of jibe. "
In Berlin, the German government was summoning the Italian Ambassador for an apology. But Mr Berlusconi couldn't see the problem.
Silvio Berlusconi, Italian Prime Minister:
"I was using irony when I was speaking. If you're not able to understand irony I'm very sorry - that's too bad but I am not withdrawing what I said - with irony..."
At a press conference afterwards Mr Berlusconi refused all invitations to apologise. The European Parliament President very diplomatically tried to tick him off. Mr Berlusconi interrupted: but they were banging their tables at me.
Earlier, to applause, Mr Berlusconi told the Parliament not to despair of the Italian Presidency. "Only six months," he said. "It'll soon be over."
The Berlusconi quote file:
"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."
June 3, 2003, in response to criticism from German Social Democratic MEP Martin Schulz over an alleged conflict of interest between his political role and media holdings.
"Let this be said politely: Nobody can teach morality lessons to the government elected by the Italian people."
Published in the Italian conservative daily Il Foglio, 3 July 2003.
"One citizen is equal to another [in the eyes of the law] but perhaps this one is slightly more equal than the rest, given that 50 per cent of Italians have given him the responsibility of governing the country."
June 19th 2003, after Italian legislators voted to pass an immunity law that will save him from prosecution for as long as he is prime minister.
"In Italy we have a cancer that must be treated, the politicisation of the judicial authorities. We need to reform the judiciary to assure the public that they have judges who are not judges of the left, [and] who are impartial judges."
June 2003.
"France has missed a good opportunity to stay quiet."
Retort to French criticism that Mr Berlusconi had disregarded EU policy by visiting the Israeli PM but not Yasser Arafat.
"They have made criminal use of public television."
On coverage of Presidential election campaign by journalists on his RAI channel, April 2002. Two months later Michele Santoro, a political commentator and the journalist Enzo Biagi were dropped.
"We had no position on this, there was no intervention of any type."
On Ferruccio de Bortoli's resignation as the editor of Corriere della Sera, Italy's most influential paper and one which had criticised the PM. May 2003.
"We should be conscious of the superiority of our civilization, which consists of a value system that has given people widespread prosperity in those countries that embrace it, and guarantees respect for human rights and religion. This respect certainly does not exist in the Islamic countries."
October 8, 2001. Retracted after global criticism.
"In Italy it is easier to divorce your wife than to fire a worker." Attributed.
"Parma is synonymous with good cuisine. The Finns don't even know what prosciutto is. I cannot accept this."
On whether the European food safety agency should be put in Helsinki, Finland, or Parma, Italy.
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