Demonstration of elected officials to defend Strasbourg as a European capital
The European Parliament in Strasbourg, in 2008. AFP - JOHANNA LEGUERRE
Text by: RFI Follow
2 min
About fifty Alsatian elected officials demonstrated in front of the European Parliament building on Monday April 26 in Strasbourg.
Local and regional elected representatives, senators, European deputies, French deputies and mayors are calling for European Parliament sessions to be held in Strasbourg as provided for in the treaties.
Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, MEPs have not set foot in Strasbourg again.
Publicity
Read more
With our correspondent in Strasbourg
,
Angélique Ferat
“
What annoys us is that we have the feeling that the Covid is an alibi for Parliament to no longer sit in Strasbourg.
Symbolically, local and national elected representatives of all political stripes were in front of the European Parliament building at 5 pm, just as the new session opened in Brussels.
Elected officials no longer accept the excuse of the epidemic.
Belgium is as affected as France and Strasbourg has set up a strict health protocol to receive deputies without this changing anything.
The European mediator seized
Frédéric Bierry, president of the European community of Alsace, which represents the two former Alsatian departments, concedes in a hint that many MEPs are reluctant to travel to Strasbourg. He also seized the European mediator for non-compliance with the treaties. "
It doesn't smell of scorching, but you have to be vigilant
," he said.
I find that we are adopting the habit of no longer coming to Strasbourg. Little by little, France is realizing that it has a European capital within it, and that it is important for France's place in Europe. But it is a realization that took a long time to come.
"
To secure the place of Strasbourg, elected officials want new European services to be located in Alsace.
In fact, the reverse is true.
They thus denounce that part of the staff of the European mediator, based in Strasbourg, is based in Brussels.
Newsletter
Receive all international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
google-play-badge_FR
European Union
France