Pubdate: Mon, 08 Feb 1999 Source: Reuters Copyright: 1999 Reuters Limited. EURO-MP APOLOGISES TO COLLEAGUES AFTER DRUGS FIND STRASBOURG, France, - A senior member of the European Parliament found with cannabis and a sex video in his suitcase apologised to the European Union assembly on Monday and said he had acted foolishly. Tom Spencer, suspended from Britain's Conservative group in the Strasbourg assembly after the discovery late last month, told colleagues his act had been one "of extraordinary foolishness". "I would like to make it clear that those who would use my stupidity to attack Europe and its parliament that the fault is mine and mine alone...I offer my apologies to parliament," Spencer told the assembly as it gathered in Strasbourg for its monthly plenary session. Spencer, chairman of the parliament's high-profile foreign affairs committee, said his acts "were rooted in love", but he realised they could have caused offence to colleagues. The parliament's president, Jose Maria Gil-Robles said Spencer had spoken with dignity and courage. "He and his family have paid a heavy price for what is a personal matter," he said. Spencer was hugged and consoled by several members of his parliamentary group after speaking. Spencer paid an on-the-spot fine of 550 pounds ($905) to customs authorities after his suitcase was opened at London's Heathrow Airport when he returned from France two weeks ago. Spencer, whose attitude to the European Union is markedly more positive than that of his sceptical party, has been a member of the Strasbourg parliament since 1979, representing the prosperous county of Surrey just south of London. - --- MAP posted-by: Rich O'Grady