10/12/2012 (Agence Europe) - Seat of EP: €244.4 million for European makeover in Strasbourg. On Friday 7 September, the French minister for European affairs, Bernard Cazeneuve, signed a “declaration of intent” with a number of territorial bodies from the Alsace region (city, urban community, department of the Lower Rhine and the Alsace Region) on the three-year “European city of Strasbourg 2012-2014” contract. This contract is expected to help toward the city's European makeover, including improvements to its public transport access, redevelopment of the international business quarter and support for its university and cultural institutions. The contract is worth €244.4 million, of which €47.5 million comes from the French state (19.4%). European Parliament plenary sessions in Strasbourg are opposed by a number of MEPs who would like a single seat to be based in Brussels (see EUROPE 10719). (CG/transl.fl)
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