Strasbourg survives challenge

The fight to end European Parliament sessions in Strasbourg received a double setback this week.

A majority of MEPs voted yesterday (11 July) to reject calls to include the subject in the negotiations on a new treaty, while plans to hold more plenary meetings in Brussels were blocked by centre-right MEPs.

UK Socialist MEP Richard Corbett and German Liberal Alexander Alvaro wanted to include the Strasbourg issue on the agenda of the intergovernmental conference (IGC) which on 23 July is to begin work on a new treaty. But the proposal, which suggested making Brussels the Parliament’s only seat and holding EU summits in Strasbourg instead, was rejected by 370 MEPs with 230 in favour.

Corbett said the fact that 230 MEPs wanted the issue raised was a "significant revolt by backbenchers". But German Socialist MEP Jo Leinen, who drafted the Parliament’s report on the draft IGC mandate, said: "We have urged governments to stay within the mandate [agreed at the June summit]."

The Parliament is required to hold 12 sessions a year in Strasbourg under the current treaty. A decision to stop meeting in Strasbourg can only be taken by unanimity. French President Nicolas Sarkozy has said that he is not prepared to negotiate on the issue.

MEPs also rejected a call, led by the Liberal group, to hold eight ‘micro-plenaries’ in Brussels to respond directly to major policy initiatives from the European Commission. The move was blocked by the centre-right EPP-ED. Liberal group sources said there had been a backlash from mainly French MEPs in the group who wanted to defend Strasbourg. But an EPP-ED source said that members felt that extra Brussels sessions were unnecessary.

The fight to end European Parliament sessions in Strasbourg received a double setback this week.