Strasbourg, 02/07/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 2 July, several MEPs opposed to the holding of plenary sessions in Strasbourg presented a survey showing that the large majority of people questioned were in favour of a single seat for the European Parliament.
In total, 83% of French people, 82% of Germans, 71% of Italians, 66% of Swedes and 58% of Poles believe that the Parliament should meet in just one place. The location of the place - Brussels or Strasbourg - was not put clearly to the people who were questioned. Supporters of the two seats number only 18% in Poland, 14% in Italy, 13% in Sweden and 12% in Germany.
In the view of Gerald Häfner, a former MEP from the Greens/EFA Group, “there is no reasonable argument for keeping” the two seats, and “an end needs to be put to this travelling circus”.
The survey “is a start, a reason for continuing the campaign [for a single seat]. The result from the citizens is clear”, said Anna Maria Corazza Bildt MEP (EPP, Sweden).
Europeans also think that it is up to the governments to decide on the place of work, while the campaigning MEPs - like European Parliament Vice-President Ulrike Lunacek (Greens/EFA, Austria) - advocate “self-determination” and self-organisation. In total, 59% of French people, 58% of Poles, 57% of Italians, 52% of Germans and 50% of Swedes think that it is up to the governments to choose (40% of French people, 22% of Poles, 25% of Italians, 37% of Germans and 28% of Swedes think that this choice should be up to the European Parliament).
The splitting of the places of work is written into the Treaties and only the EU member states can amend it. “The Council has taken the European Parliament hostage”, Häfner stated. The campaigning MEPs will unveil their working strategy at the September plenary session. The survey was conducted in five member states and around 1,000 people over age 18 were questioned in each member state. Belgium was due to take part in the survey but its results have not been issued. (CG)