In an open letter released Tuesday 4 May, representatives of civil society ask Clément Beaune, French Secretary of State for European Affairs, to consider an appeal to the Court of Justice of the European Union, if the European Parliament does not organise “a return of plenary sessions to Strasbourg as soon as possible”.
The angle of attack would be “the legality of the convocations in Brussels”, say the signatories, pointing out that, since February 2021, the President of the European Parliament has been convening plenary sessions not from a distance, but in the Belgian capital.
The 13 signatories include the heads of European associations, Michel Deneken, President of the University of Strasbourg, Enrico Letta, President of theJacques Delors Institute, Jean-Dominique Giuliani, President of the Robert Schuman Foundation, Pervenche Berès, member of the board of the Jean-Jaurès Foundation and former MEP, as well as Fabienne Keller (Renew Europe), Anne Sander (EPP), Evelyne Gebhardt (S&D) and David (Greens/EFA), all four of whom are sitting MEPs.
“Habits are being formed”, says Frédérique Berrod, who teaches European law at the University of Strasbourg and is also a signatory, adding that “we are witnessing a misuse of the Treaty. The EU Digital Green Certificate for free movement proposed by the European Commission and soon to be adopted should allow for a return to Strasbourg as early as the June session”. (Original version in French by Véronique Leblanc)