The President of the European Parliament, David Sassoli, announced on Monday 28 September that the plenary session opening on Monday 5 October would once again be held in Brussels and not in Strasbourg.
“Unfortunately, given the recent increase in the rate of transmission of the virus in France, including in the Bas-Rhin department, and in the interests of public health, we must reconsider the movement of MEPs and staff to the European Parliament, just a few days before the first parliamentary session in October”, said Mr Sassoli.
The President of the European Parliament has therefore resisted the calls of the French President, Emmanuel Macron, who sent him a letter on Wednesday 23 September demanding a “return to institutional normality and a resumption of plenary sessions in Strasbourg as of October”.
Since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, eight plenary sessions have been moved to Brussels, much to the displeasure of the government and some French elected representatives (see EUROPE 12556/11).
Arguing that the health situation is no more critical in Strasbourg than it is in Brussels, Emmanuel Macron notes in his letter that “rigorous cooperation” had been initiated between the French government, the city of Strasbourg, local authorities and European Parliament departments to “apply a strict health protocol and offer robust guarantees to both MEPs and administrative staff”.
In addition, the French President has requested that the “compensation mechanisms” (see EUROPE 12559/28) be defined. These could, he suggests, take the form of longer sessions over the coming months.
He is also in favour of the opening of a Conference on the Future of Europe (see EUROPE 12550/20), “as well as many of its work activities” taking place in Strasbourg.
To consult the letter in French: https://bit.ly/34a5vDg (Original version in French by Agathe Cherki)