5th November 2008 - Linda renews call for end to Strasbourg meetings

Local Member of the European Parliament Linda McAvan has again renewed her call for the European Parliament to meet only in Brussels – and end the 12 yearly sessions held in the French city of Strasbourg.

Most of the day-to-day meetings of Euro-MPs take place in Brussels, but under an agreement reached by John Major’s government in the 1990’s, they are obliged to hold 12 meetings each year in Strasbourg, the so-called “plenary” sessions.

The cost of the Strasbourg Parliament is believed to be around €200 million, and the journeys of MEPs and staff to and from the city produces around 20,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide each year.

Over a million people from the 27 different EU countries have already signed a petition – online at www.oneseat.eu - calling for an end to the Strasbourg sittings.

Dismayed at the lack of progress on the issue, Linda is joining other MEPs in signing a Parliamentary Written Declaration calling on national governments to change the rules.

Linda McAvan says;

“If it was down to MEPs, we would hold all our meetings in Brussels. It makes no sense at all to move to Strasbourg for one week of the month, every month. It is a completely unnecessary expense, it’s bad for the environment, and when so many people have made their views known it is important that the European Union is seen to be listening. That is why I am continuing to call for EU governments to re-write the rules on this.”