MEPs cut one session of ‘travelling circus’

MEPs have given an unexpected cold shoulder to Strasbourg, the capital of the Alsace region in France and seat of the plenary sessions of the European Parliament.

In an unprecedented decision, the majority of MEPs last week voted in favour of reducing the monthly sessions in the French city by a session (a week) in 2012 and 2013, revealing the frustration of the majority of MEPs in what has become known as the EP’s “travelling circus”.

According to an agreement reached many years ago and enshrined in the EU Treaty, all the meetings of the EP are to be held in Brussels except the plenary sessions which have to be held in Strasbourg.

The decision, very unpopular among MEPs, is defended vehemently by France, a founding member of the EU, particularly for the economic benefits to the city of the monthly move of hundreds of MEPs and their staff.

In a secret ballot, MEPs abstentions, to reduce by one session a year the number of round trips between the hemicycles of Brussels and Strasbourg. Although the MEPs decided to cut only one of the 12 annual sessions, many interpreted this move as sending an important message that the issue must be resolved and that the EP should have just one meeting place.

A report published last month, titled A Tale Of Two Cities, exposed the economic and environmental costs of MEPs’ monthly sojourns to Strasbourg. Each trip costs €15 million and generates 1,500 tonnes of carbon emissions.

In a statement issued following the vote, Nationalist MEP David Casa declared his support for a “one seat” decision by the EP.

Co-signing a letter sent to the President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy on this issue together with a number of other MEPs, Mr Casa said MEPs could not expect EU citizens to have any faith in their work “if this unnecessary, costly and wasteful state of affairs is allowed to continue”.

A change in the EP’s seat will require the agreement of the 27 member states. France has always opposed any attempts to eliminate the Strasbourg EP sessions.