“If we accept that the European Parliament only meets in Brussels, we’re screwed, because in ten years everything will be in Brussels. And people will only talk to each other in Brussels. Europe is not that idea”, the French president said on Tuesday 29 September from Vilnius, AFP reported.
Emmanuel Macron thus regretted the decision the day before by the Parliament's President David Sassoli not to hold the plenary session starting Monday 5 October in Strasbourg because of the Covid-19 pandemic (see EUROPE 12569/18).
On Tuesday, Mr Sassoli's reply to a previous letter from Mr Macron, asking him to return to Strasbourg, was leaked to the press.
The President of the Parliament assured Mr Macron that the “dearest wish” of the European institution is to resume holding plenary sessions in the Alsatian capital.
Nevertheless, asking a considerable number of people to move from one high-risk area - Brussels - to another high-risk area - Strasbourg - would “inevitably lead to a significant increase in the risk of exposure to the virus, not only for MEPs and European Parliament staff, but also for the population of the regions concerned”, justified Mr Sassoli. And to ensure that any decision on the location of a plenary session is based “on objective public health considerations” and is taken only the week before it takes place.
Conference on the Future of Europe. Mr Sassoli also responded favourably to the French request for compensation for the use of the Parliament’s seat for the discussions to be held at the Conference on the Future of Europe.
“I would be delighted if this conference could start its work soon and if the European Parliament could host the opening session and many of its proceedings at its seat in Strasbourg”, he said.
See Mr. Sassoli's letter in French: https://bit.ly/3n0K0NQ (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)