Strasbourg European capital 2013. 03 12 2007 The European Parliament -

G.

VARELA / 20 MINUTES

Between the stork or Manneken-Pis, you have to choose for MEPs.

And unlike the 2018 World Cup (yes Belgian friends, we will continue to bother you with that at least until 2022), France is this time the loser of this fight.

The next session of the European Parliament, from October 5 to 8, will be held in Brussels and not in Strasbourg because of the pandemic, its president David Sassoli announced on Monday, despite a request from French President Emmanuel Macron.

“Unfortunately, given the recent increase in the rate of transmission of the virus in France, including in the Bas-Rhin department, and for the sake of public health, we must reconsider the displacement of Members and employees of the European Parliament, to a few days of the first parliamentary session in October ”, explained David Sassoli in a statement to elected officials.

" I count on you "

The French president had called for the return of plenary sessions to Strasbourg "from October".

"It is up to you to implement without delay the return to institutional normality and a resumption of plenary sessions in Strasbourg from October," he wrote in a letter to David Sassoli.

" I count on you.

Respect for treaties seems essential to me, ”added the French head of state.

But the President of the Assembly ruled that the conditions did not yet lend themselves to a resumption of sessions in Strasbourg, seat of the European Parliament.

In Strasbourg as soon as possible

“Unfortunately, the health situation prevents us from going to Strasbourg for the first plenary session in October.

We hope that everything will change soon and that we can return to our city, ”he explained in a message posted on his twitter account.

"Parliament will hold its sessions again in Strasbourg as soon as conditions allow", he concluded.

A second session of the European Parliament is scheduled for October 19-22.

Ecological and financial cost

According to the European treaties, the institution is headquartered in Strasbourg, where twelve plenary sessions of three and a half days per year are usually held.

But the rest of the time, MEPs work in Brussels, which has been a source of debate for years.

Any change of treaty would however require the approval of all member states.

The many supporters of a single headquarters, which would be established in Brussels, regularly denounce the financial and ecological cost of this monthly transhumance of around 2,500 people, and the fact that the immense Strasbourg complex is only used four days a month.

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