Strasbourg, 07/09/2006 (Agence Europe) - On 6 September, the European Parliament's Bureau endorsed by 13 votes to 1 the compromise reached in talks between the French government and the Strasbourg city authorities on the purchase by the EP of three buildings which it currently rents from the city of Strasbourg. Under the agreement, the EP would buy three office buildings from Strasbourg (in addition to the EP's 'hemicycle' building which it already owns) for EUR 143,125,000, namely the Winston Churchill, the Salvador de Madariaga and the IPE3 building. The compromise diffuses the financial scandal by including a third office building (IPE3) in the deal for a low price (the other two buildings cost between them EUR 135 million). Strasbourg will give the EP the land the buildings are built on, and will itself be given around EUR 10 million by the French government in compensation payments because Strasbourg argues the buildings are worth more. The EP blocked the purchase of the Winston Churchill and the Salvador de Madariaga when it learnt that the city of Strasbourg would be getting EUR 29 million in 'compensation' for various reasons out of the purchase price of EUR 136 million (see EUROPE 9193). The purchase price must now be endorsed by the European Parliament's Budgets Committee, which is meeting in Strasbourg on 12 and 13 September. If approved, the EP may sign the sales agreement at its plenary in Strasbourg on 25 to 28 September.