Brussels, 23/10/2014 (Agence Europe) - In Strasbourg on Tuesday 22 October, MEPs requested that a roadmap be implemented “immediately” for a single seat for the European Parliament.
“In order to generate sustainable savings in the budget of the European Union, the Parliament and Council must imperatively establish a roadmap for a single seat - the need for which has been underlined by the Parliament in several previous resolutions”, the paragraph states that was adopted by 511 votes in favour, 124 against and 54 abstentions (our translation). This paragraph is written into the report on the draft general budget of the European Union for the 2015 financial year.
New campaign for a single seat. Alongside this, on Wednesday 22 October a group of MEPs launched a campaign for a single seat of the European Parliament. By single seat, the group means a single seat in Brussels. The group is “now more than ever a cross-party, cross-national, pro-dialogue, pro-democracy and pro-European initiative”, said the leader of the single seat campaign, Anna Maria Corazza Bildt (EPP, Sweden). Pina Picierno (S&D, Italy), Ashley Fox (ECR, UK), Beatriz Becerra (ALDE, Spain), Dennis de Jong (GUE/NGL, the Netherlands), and Ulrike Lunacek (Greens/EFA) were elected deputy leaders. “Our aim is to use our right of initiative to change the European treaties, for the Parliament to decide on its seat”, said Corazza Bildt. Member state unanimity is needed in order to review the treaties. Corazza Bildt reiterated that “this is not a campaign against Strasbourg” but against “waste” and for “efficiency”. The group states that a European Court of Auditors report believes that there would be €114 million in savings if there was only a single seat.
Anne Sander (EPP, France) recalled that there was “already a single and unique seat of the European Parliament - the one in Strasbourg”. “Over recent years, the initiatives against Strasbourg have multiplied from MEPs who are more and more numerous and vindictive. France must react and defend the Parliament's historic seat”, she added (our translation). France has always opposed the European Parliament's seat disappearing from Strasbourg. (CG)