Accompanied by a militaristic flag-raising ceremony and the strains of Beethoven’s Ode to Joy — the European anthem — the new members of the most Eurosceptic European Parliament gathered in Strasbourg yesterday to begin work.

Hans-Gert Pöttering, the outgoing President of the Parliament, urged MEPs to unite to freeze "anti-Europeans" out of the decision-making process for the next five years.
David Charter on Times Online. Hat tip: Craig (The connolly column)