Suspended since March, the sessions of the European Parliament could soon resume in Strasbourg.

The hemicycle of the Alsatian capital could be preferred to that of Brussels, where the health situation is deteriorating.

Restaurant owners and hoteliers welcome the return of MEPs who fill their reservation books.

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For seven months, Strasbourg has been deprived of parliamentary sessions because of the coronavirus epidemic.

The health situations in Strasbourg and Brussels are now very different: the Belgian capital turns scarlet red when improvements are noticeable in the Grand Est.

MEPs could therefore be called upon to sit in the Strasbourg Parliament for the next session from Monday.

Hoteliers and restaurateurs welcome this prospect but remain cautious, aware of the precariousness of the situation.

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On her computer screen, Déborah Jund notes the names of the MEPs who have made a reservation at her hotel in Strasbourg.

For the first time since February, reservations are pouring in.

Normally, it keeps at least 16 of its 22 rooms for them every month.

However, she does not cry victory: "They keep the right to cancel Thursday at noon unconditionally, as soon as we learn that the session is canceled," sighs the boss.

Cascading cancellations?

The return of deputies to Alsace could be done in a lighter version.

For example, each of them should be accompanied by only one assistant.

"It's already that", ensures the microphone of Europe 1, Roger Sengel, the representative of restaurateurs and hoteliers.

He believes that a possible cancellation of the parliamentary session would give the wrong signal to foreign tourists, leading to cascading cancellations: "They say 'since the Parliament is not going to Strasbourg, there is a problem' . "

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Roger Sengel wants to be much more reassuring about the management of the epidemic in the Alsatian capital: "We are in an area where there is no pressure. To foreign tourists, I say 'if you heard correctly that the session is being held in Strasbourg, so all is well. Don't be shy, come back '. "