Brussels, 28/02/2013 (Agence Europe) -French Minister for European Affairs Bernard Cazeneuve expressed his surprise on Wednesday evening 27 February at the statement signed by three European Commissioners - Neelie Kroes (Digital Agenda), Olli Rehn (Economic and Monetary Affairs) and Karel De Gucht (trade) - that there should be one single European Parliament seat, based in Brussels. The minister said that “it is surprising that European Commissioners exercising their office, have given their support to an initiative that contradicts the provision included in the treaties of which the Commission itself is the guarantor”. He also took note of the Commission's reaction and pointed out that the French authorities' position on the seat of the European Parliament was clear: “France is very much in support of respecting the treaties… this decision cannot be changed and is non-negotiable”.
On 27-28 February, the European Commission distanced itself from the position taken by the three commissioners, indicating that they had spoken “in a personal capacity”. One of the Commission spokespersons, Olivier Bailly, explained that “the commissioners are free to think and say what they like, even about the treaties”. Bailly previously stated that “this declaration does not change the treaties” and added that “the Commission is the guardian of the treaties and we respect the protocol on the seat of the institutions as annexed to the treaties”. Another spokesperson, Pia Ahrenkilde-Hansen, explained that the question of the location of the seat of the EP and that of changing it, required unanimity and fell within the remit of the member states.
In a joint statement adopted by the European Liberal group, the three commissioners, along with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, British Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, Croatian Foreign Minister Vesna Pusic, Swedish Minister for European Affairs Birgitta Ohlsson, President of the European Investment Bank Werner Hoyer and head of the ALDE Group at the European Parliament Guy Verhofstadt, stressed that “the European leaders and institutions should explore… the different options for moving to a single seat of the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers in Brussels”. (CG/transl.fl)