By Martin Banks - 15th April 2011
The additional cost of Strasbourg is about €180m a year and 19,000 tonnes of CO2
Edward McMillan-Scott
An EU-wide debate on alternative uses for parliament's buildings in Strasbourg has been launched by a cross-party group of MEPs.
The move comes after a vote in March to cut parliament's meetings in the Alsatian city.
The French government has contested the vote as the split site arrangement was in the EU treaty.
The French position was reinforced this week by Luxembourg premier Jean-Claude Juncker who also said the arrangement is "fixed in the treaty".
UK Liberal Democrat deputy Edward McMillan-Scott and German colleague Alexander Alvaro, chairman of the OneSeat campaign, launched a debate on Wednesday on suitable alternatives for the Strasbourg complex if parliament moves to Brussels, as they say a majority of MEPs want.
A discussion paper outlining alternatives and calling for fellow MEPs and members of the public to submit their views and suggestions for Strasbourg has been published on the Brussels-Strasbourg seat study group's website (www.brusselsstrasbourgstudy.eu).
The cross-party committee of senior MEPs has already had informal discussions with officials from other institutions on opportunities for the Alsatian capital and plans to hold a hearing on the issue before the summer recess.
Ideas circulating include moving the Brussels-based Committee of the Regions to Strasbourg or holding the regular meetings of the European council of heads of government in the Alsatian capital.
Another possible option is turning Strasbourg into a 'European city of justice' and relocating the Luxembourg-based European Court of Justice there to meet alongside the post-war court of human rights.
MEPs voted on 9 March by a majority of more than 100 to combine two of their 12 monthly four-day sessions to Strasbourg in the 2012-2013 calendar into a single week.
Laurent Wauquiez, French minister for European affairs, said Paris will take parliament to the European Court of Justice for violating the treaty, which mandates the 12 annual Strasbourg sessions.
Strasbourg city council unanimously adopted a motion to move parliament to Strasbourg from Brussels, where most of its work is done.
McMillan-Scott said: "The additional cost of Strasbourg is about €180m a year and 19,000 tonnes of CO2.
"It is clear from opinion surveys - and now from a decisive vote on our meeting calendar - that the vast majority of MEPs want to meet in one place only, Brussels. Now we know that ministers too would prefer to meet in Brussels."
Alexander Alvaro added: "Parliament needs to have a public debate about its autonomy and role.
"The way to best ensure unity and political stability in the EU is to ensure that it is an efficient and accountable decision-making body. This needs to guide the debate despite political sensitivities."
