France to spend Euro 45m on Strasbourg image

Date: 19/12/02

By Martin Banks

THE French government has revealed that it plans to spend €45 million over the next three years promoting Strasbourg as a seat of the European Parliament.

It has set up a steering committee to look at ways of reinforcing the city's claim to be at the heart of the "European project". Ideas under discussion include a dedicated Brussels to Strasbourg air shuttle and a high-speed train link between the Alsace city and Frankfurt.

But the move will be seen by many as a sign of increasing French anxiety at growing criticism of the huge cost of the monthly commute for MEPs and Parliamentary staff between Brussels and Strasbourg.

Some deputies have branded Strasbourg a "white elephant" because it is unused for three weeks in every month. Nevertheless, €18 million will be spent on extending the building to cope with the influx of new MEPs after ten new states join the Union in 2004.

Strasbourg's status as the official seat of the Parliament was confirmed by the 1997 Amsterdam Treaty, following a deal by EU leaders.

The institution spends €169 million each year to keep on the move - a figure set to rise to €203 million or 16% of the total Parliamentary budget - when the EU expands.

French European Affairs minister Noelle Lenoir revealed details of the back-Strasbourg campaign when she visited the Parliament to meet MEPs at this week's plenary session.

She told European Voice that the French government was absolutely determined to reassert and strengthen Strasbourg's position as the official home of the assembly.

"I am, of course, aware of the criticism which has been made about the cost of MEPs and their staff commuting each month to the city," she said. "But Strasbourg is an historic and important symbol of peace in Europe and we intend to bolster its position as a seat of the European Parliament."

Lenoir stressed that the €45 million would not come from EU coffers, but said France may look to member states to stump up the cost of improving transport links to the city.

Many MEPs regularly complain about poor air services to Strasbourg, with those from outlying parts of the EU sometimes facing journeys of up to ten hours.

Lenoir said: "Let's not forget the decision to house the Parliament in Strasbourg was a political one, not only of France but other member states such as Germany.

"I accept, however, that access to the city could be better and that is one of the things we will be looking at over the next three years.

"We will also investigate other possibilities such as establishing a European university in the city. The important point, though, is that Strasbourg continues to be a general core of European activity."

The French proposals were attacked by UK MEP Chris Heaton-Harris, who has been one of the harshest critics of the monthly commute.

"It beggars belief that the French government is prepared to spend so much defending something which many of us think has become a waste of time. The sooner we call a halt to the travelling circus the better it will be for everyone."

Not even all French MEPs support the idea of commuting between Brussels and Strasbourg.

In September, Daniel-Cohn Bendit, the co-leader of the Greens, told this newspaper: "Having these two seats may have made sense 50 years ago, but it can no longer be justified and should be brought to an end."

The French government has revealed that it plans to spend €45 million over the next three years promoting Strasbourg as a seat of the European Parliament.