BELGIUM/FRANCE: One million Europeans want end to MEPs' costly 'travelling circus'

Record ID: 1538123

  • Title: BELGIUM/FRANCE: One million Europeans want end to MEPs' costly 'travelling circus'
  • Date: 22nd September 2006
  • Summary: (EU) PARIS, FRANCE (SEPTEMBER 21, 2006) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (French) PIERRE MICAUX, UMP (UNION FOR A POPULAR MOVEMENT - CHIRAC'S PARTY) MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR AUBE, SAYING: "I am amongst those who will fight to make sure the seat of Europe stays in Strasbourg forever and I will fight very hard. I am willing to challenge the existence of Europe. I will go as far as that."
  • Embargoed: 7th October 2006 12:53
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: European Union
  • Reuters ID: LVABOSN2HQCW1Z0YDXEZAZXEQ1T3
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: European members of parliament delivered 1 million signatures from people wanting to scrap the so-called travelling circus of MEPS moving between the Brussels and Strasbourg parliaments at a cost of 200 million euros a year.
    Led by German, Swedish and Finnish MEPS, the delegation delivered the petition at the Brussels commission on Thursday (September 21) even though they acknowledge the fact that it is not within its remit to change the geographical seat of parliament.
    German MEP Alexander Navaro, Swedish MEP Cecilia Malmstrom and Finnish MEP Alexander Stubb explained that they came to the commission to make a symbolic and political statement and to show the strong level of opposition to the 2-seat system.
    The Campaign for Parliament Reform (CPR) group, which gathered the signatures, says the dispersion of parliament's activities has a negative impact on time and cost effectiveness and the overall image of the European Union. It adds that Strasbourg has come to be seen as the symbol of the EU's gravy train image.
    The signatures were mainly gathered from the internet and come from 14 countries. Malmstrom says this is just the beginning and expects to get a lot more by the time the EU discusses the constitution which would be the only vehicle available to allow the scrapping of Strasbourg as a parliament.
    The signatures are likely to embarrass EU governments, which are resisting the change of parliament's site, with France ruling out the move. The decision to move out of Strasbourg would require a unanimous decision of the bloc's 25 governments.
    But Alvaro warned the commission representative sent in the place of Commissioner Margot Wallstrom, against ignoring the voices of as many as 1 million European citizens.
    "It would be a terrible mistake for the European institutions to ignore the fact that 1 million citizens expressed their opinion," Alvaro said.
    Stubb explained why he believed it would make sense to move the parliament to a single Brussels location: cost and political efficiency. He detailed the reasons why travelling to Strasbourg was so difficult.
    "It's pure hell, if I am allowed to use that term on television. Basically it takes a lot of time, it isolates us from the real decision making which happens here in Brussels, it costs a lot of money - 200 million a year - just for the administration of the European parliament, plus our own expenses. So it's a complete waste of time and money. It's a very bad trip," Stubb said.
    Malmstrom said the to-ing and fro-ing between capital cities was very bad for the parliament's image and was seriously damaging to European democracy.
    "It's also an issue of democracy because the council and the commission, which we have to control, are in Brussels and we are in Strasbourg. Therefore it gives an image of a 'traveling circus' with all the trucks, all the people who go from one place to another. And now we need to restore the legitimacy of the European institutions," she said.
    However, since they would need to change the treaty and wait for a constitution it could take 11 years to get what these MEPs and one million citizens of Europe are asking for.
    "We won't get it in 2009, we probably won't get it by 2014. But if we get it by 2019 I think this day has been quite a story," Stubb said.
    France and Germany see Strasbourg, located near their borders, as a symbol of post war-European unity.
    Under a 1992 EU treaty, the assembly must hold at least 12 four-day plenary sessions a year in Strasbourg. The assembly holds shorter sessions and most committee meetings in Brussels.
    French Deputies said they would fight any attempt to permanently de-camp the parliament from Strasbourg saying it would not only be bad for the city it would also damage Europe itself.
    "It's inconceivable. I can't imagine that you can do that, that anyone can think of getting rid of the Strasbourg parliament purely for budgetary reasons," said French member of parliament Patrick Ollier.
    "There is a will to rationalise which is obvious in the proposition, I know the problems both for the administration and for the European parliamentarians. But there are also a political dimension which cannot be ignored because its Europe but Strasbourg is also Europe," said French MP Gerard Bapt.
    European Parliament President Josep Borrell asked EU leaders in June to consider ending the travelling, but his appeal failed and instead he decided to propose buying the three Strasbourg buildings rather than to continue renting them.
    "I am amongst those who will fight to make sure the seat of Europe stays in Strasbourg for ever and I will fight very hard. I am willing to challenge the existence of Europe. I will go as far as that," Pierre Micaux, French UMP member of parliament said.
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