Brussels, 15/03/2011 (Agence Europe) - France has decided to challenge a decision by the European Parliament whereby two plenary sessions will be scheduled during one and the same week in Strasbourg for the years 2012 and 2013. France has therefore referred the matter to the Court of Justice. The decision adopted by the EP on 9 March this year (see EUROPE 10333) provides for two of the 12 monthly plenary sessions, which must be held each year in Strasbourg under Protocol No 6 (annexed to the Treaty) on fixing the seats of institutions, to be held during the same week of October, in 2012 and 2013. France's Minister for European Affairs Laurent Wauquiez felt the vote was “unfortunate and inappropriate”. “At a time when the powers of the European Parliament have been considerably strengthened by the Treaty of Lisbon, concentrating two sessions in one week is tantamount to hampering the correct functioning of parliamentary work”, he comments in a press release. France therefore intends to challenge the legality of this decision before the Court as it is not in line with Protocol No 6 and thus brings into question the seat of the European Parliament, the minister states.
British MEP Ashley Fox (ECR), who was at the origin of the proposal for amending the timetable of plenary sessions, said “France has made a serious error” by challenging a decision before the Court as the decision in question reflects “the overwhelming will of the European Parliament right across the political spectrum, to cut down on the number of journeys that we make between Brussels and Strasbourg”. “France needs to realise that it is fighting a futile battle”, Fox states in a press release. Should the Court decide to annul the EP's decision, Ashley Fox already has a Plan B up his sleeve - that all monthly plenary sessions in Strasbourg be shortened by one day, from four to three days. In this case, the economic losses suffered by Strasbourg would be still greater, he warned. (H.B./transl.jl)