EU's Strasbourg 'travelling circus' claims another victim

A senior British MEP has announced she is standing down from the European parliament, citing the “punishing” twin-site arrangement as one of the main reasons for her decision.

Eluned Morgan said her decision not to seek re-election next June, follows “months of agonising” but had been taken because she wants to spend more time with her family.

She said it had been a “tremendously difficult” decision to take, not least because she had been chosen to head the Welsh Labour list in next year’s elections.

“After 15 years however, with a constantly punishing schedule in Brussels and Strasbourg and the huge task of representing the whole of Wales in addition to the need to balance work and family life I believe that it is time to hand on this privileged post, “ she said.

Travel from her constituency in Wales to Strasbourg is notoriously difficult.

She also said the EU’s so-called democratic deficit had also been a factor in her decision.

“One of the constant frustrations of being an MEP is the almost impossible task of getting the European message through,” she said.

“Although it is often difficult to explain the intricacies of European laws, the fact is that sooner or later they have an impact on the lives of millions of people in Wales and throughout the EU," said Morgan, who has led the energy portfolio in parliament.

“The importance of the European Union cannot be understated especially at a time when some of the biggest challenges facing us today need international cooperation.”

Morgan was only the fifth woman in Welsh history to be appointed to a full-time political position.

Her decision echoes that of Gary Titley, leader of the UK delegation of Socialist deputies, who is also standing down next year for similar reasons.

Speaking in parliament on Wednesday, Titley said the so-called ‘travelling circus’ to Strasbourg, which sees hundreds of MEPs and staff decamp to the French city each month, was increasingly taking a heavy toll on members, particularly those with young families.

“The twin-site arrangement is simply unsustainable,” he said.

In 2002, Simon Murphy quit as leader of the Socialist group, blaming his decision on the fact that MEPs are forced to shuttle between Brussels and Strasbourg.

He branded the constant moving between the two sites as a 'circus.'

More than one million EU citizens signed a petition calling for an end to the commute but only a new EU treaty replacing the current one and unanimous approval of all EU member states could change that. France, which has a veto over any possible future changes, is fiercely opposed to losing the parliament.

The French session resumes next week after a short break following the collapse of the ceiling in the hemicycle in Strasbourg.

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