Base the European Parliament in Brussels - always
June 7, 2006 11:33 AM
It costs European taxpayers approximately 200 million euros a year to move the Parliament between Brussels and Strasbourg every month. The Liberal Democrats are campaigning to stop this waste of time and money. A new cross-party campaign has been launched to end this monthly trek.
Lib Dem MEP Andrew Duff is working with Richard Corbett (Labour) and Edward McMillan-Scott (Conservative) to endorse the campaign, which gives the public a chance to have their say. The aim of the campaign is to gather one million signatures on a petition addressed to EU leaders.
Shepway Lib Dem Chair Tim Prater said:
"I have signed this petition; I hope you will, and tell your friends. When the EU was just six member states this was less of an issue. It was also a statement of unity between those nations. These reasons are now outweighed by sheer practicality if nothing else.
"Although the Lib Dems are pro-Europe, we believe need to work within Europe to sort out areas where the system is wrong. The dual-centre centre is wrong, expensive and should be changed - let's do it.
You can sign up at a special website - www.oneseat.eu
The obligation on the European Parliament to sit in Strasbourg twelve times a year is enshrined in the EU Treaties. Only a unanimous decision of the heads of government, followed by national ratification, can give Parliament discretion as to where it should meet.
The visits to Strasbourg cost the Parliament E200 million a year. To make savings, the French authorities have suggested that MEPs should leave Brussels behind and settle entirely in Strasbourg. But this would cut MEPs off from the other institutions with which daily contact in indispensable, as well as the media, diplomats, lobbyists and NGOs. Besides, Strasbourg is too small for a pan-continental parliament, with bad air and rail links.
We propose that, in exchange for the loss of the Parliament, Strasbourg hosts the equally prestigious, but smaller and less frequent summit meetings of the European Council. The heads of government would be paying the homage they clearly feel to be due to Strasbourg as the symbol of Franco-German reconciliation. And the city would also remain the home of the Council of Europe and the European Court of Human Rights.
The on-line petition is gathering strength across the Union. Please sign up now.
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