MEPs: "SCRAP STRASBOURG - ONE SEAT IS ENOUGH"

2.16.42pm GMT Tue 22nd Feb 2005

Sarah Ludford demonstrates with her colleague Fiona Hall MEP against the expensive and wasteful requirement imposed on MEPs to meet in Strasbourg as well as Brussels.

MEPs from all over Europe have today called for an end to the needless cost and waste of having two official seats for the European Parliament.

Few Euro-MPs deny the historic significance of Strasbourg - a city that embodies the spirit of European reconciliation - but many now believe that the waste and expense involved in monthly trips from Brussels to the French city can no longer be justified. They argue that the parliament should give up wandering and make Brussels its permanent home.

The 500 mile round-trip journey represents a huge cost to the European taxpayer. Twelve times a year, 732 MEPs with 2000 assistants and many hundreds more parliament staff take to the road from Brussels to Strasbourg. They are followed by huge lorries that carry 3500 trunks packed full of folders and papers necessary for a week's work. The costs total more than 200 million Euros per year (£140 million).

The Campaign for Parliamentary Reform is a cross-party group of MEPs committed to securing a single seat for the European Parliament. Today's action saw British, German and Scandinavian MEPs join together to call for an end to the monthly Strasbourg trip.

But it is national governments, not just MEPs, that will have to be convinced. The rule to meet in Strasbourg twelve times a year is written into the EU's treaties and can only be changed by a unanimous vote of member states.

Sarah Ludford, Liberal Democrat MEP and member of the Campaign for Parliamentary Reform, said,

"The European Parliament is becoming a more powerful and politically mature institution. It needs to get on with its work in a business-like fashion - a full-time single seat in Brussels would reflect that. Strasbourg will always have a special place in the history of the European Union, but paying this price for symbolism is unacceptable."

"The Strasbourg buck stops with national governments. They bear ultimate responsibility for this needless cost and waste. They must find an amicable way to end the Brussels-Strasbourg circus."

"I believe a suitable alternative use could be found for the parliament. The buildings would be ideal for a European University. Strasbourg need not lose its special place in European history."

Ends

Note:

1. Information about the Campaign for Parliamentary Reform is available on www.ep-reform.net.

2. The Campaign for Parliamentary Reform held an informal vote between 1st and 8th March concerning the Parliament's seat. 841 votes were polled of people who have access to the European Parliament website. The results were as follows:

All EP plenary sessions should be held in Brussels:

AGREE - 72.33%

DISAGREE - 26.41%

DON'T KNOW - 1.26%