MEPs call for European Parliament to have just one seat
Strasbourg, 8th June 2011 — In a significant vote today in the European Parliament, MEPs have overwhelmingly called for the institution to end its monthly relocation between Brussels and Strasbourg, which costs around 200 million Euros and emits around 20,000 tonnes of CO2.
The vote was a ray of sunshine in an otherwise abysmal report on the next seven year EU budget, which was adopted by MEPs this lunchtime. The EPP group in the parliament had sought to delete the call for the parliament to have a single seat but their amendment was defeated by 353 votes to 282 with 38 abstentions.
The large margin in the vote is further evidence that MEPs are becoming increasingly hostile to the nicknamed ‘travelling circus’. During a vote on the European Parliament’s calendars for 2012 and 2013 in March, amendments tabled by Conservative MEPs were passed which merge the two sessions in October into one week. This means that MEPs will still fulfil their treaty obligations to hold 12 sessions in Strasbourg, whilst only having to make 11 trips backwards and forwards. The groundbreaking amendment, which received support from factions right across the chamber, will save EU taxpayers 15 Million Euros and prevent 1600 tonnes of carbon dioxide from being needlessly emitted. It is currently being challenged in the European Court of Justice by the French and Luxembourg governments.
Mr Sturdy, Conservative MEP for the East of England said:
“The two seats of the European Parliament are one of the main reasons that people feel disenchanted with the EU and ending it will go some way to claw back some respect”
“By reducing the number of journeys we make to and fro will not only be a good thing for the EU’s reputation, but it will also save substantial amounts of money and carbon emissions. However, only national governments can change the EU’s treaties. Hopefully this vote will bolster those member-states that already see the waste of Strasbourg and help to convince others”
Ends
For further information contact: Robert Sturdy MEP– robert.sturdy@europarl.europa.eu
Tel: 01954 211790 or 0032 2284 7294
