Rent rip-off spurs bid to quit city

By Simon Taylor

Date: 11/05/06

MEPs have stepped up their efforts to quit Strasbourg in the wake of the outcry over overcharging for buildings in the Alsatian capital.

Members of the 140-strong Campaign for Parliamentary Reform (CPR) launched an initiative yesterday (10 May) to get one million signatures from the public in support of ending the European Parliament's monthly meetings in Strasbourg at an estimated annual cost of at least EUR 200 million.

Swedish Liberal MEP Cecilia Malmström, who is hosting the website - www.oneseat.eu - said that the campaign had already collected 6,000 signatures since being launched.

Finnish centre-right MEP Piia-Noora Kauppi said that it was a "disgrace" that the Parliament did not have the power to decide where it meets.

"The Council of Ministers did not want the Parliament to have more power," she said. "They like the Parliament being seen as a travelling circus." Asked how this new campaign could affect whether the Parliament met in Strasbourg, as it can only be changed by a unanimous decision by EU leaders, German Liberal MEP Alexander Alvaro, chairman of CPR, said: "We are not naive enough to think we can change the treaty on our own but running water can wear away a stone."

As evidence of progress, Alvaro said that Socialist group leader Martin Schulz had asked Parliament President Josep Borrell to raise the Strasbourg issue with EU leaders. "No one would have thought that in 2006 a group leader would ask for this to be discussed," he said.

Both the centre-right EPP-ED and the Liberals are discussing whether to back Schulz. Alvaro said there was widespread support in the ALDE group.

Separately, UK Socialist Richard Corbett tabled a motion asking for EU summits to be held in Strasbourg and the Parliament to meet only in Brussels.

The campaign for the Parliament to stop meeting in Strasbourg has gained

Article reports that Members of the 140-strong Campaign for Parliamentary Reform (CPR) launched an initiative on 10 May 2006 to get one million signatures from the public in support of ending the European Parliament's monthly meetings in Strasbourg at an estimated annual cost of at least € 200 million.

• Primary Source

Oneseat.eu: Homepage http://www.oneseat.eu

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