Strasbourg Seat Trouble
There has been debates about whether it would be better to give up the European Parliament Strasbourg seat and only use Brussels for parliament. Critics are gaining ground, and Dutch prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende will be discussing this thorny issue with his colleagues. Critics feel that the Strasbourg seat is a waste of taxpayer’s money and should be dropped.
Mr Balkenende said he would “operate tactically” and follow closely an opening speech by the parliament’s president Josep Borrell who was planning to raise the controversial subject, according to Dutch papers.
The €200 million arrangement, often dubbed Europe’s “travelling circus” as MEPs once a month move between Brussels and Strasbourg with their staff and crates of documents, has been increasingly criticised by citizens and MEPs themseves.
Over the past few months, the critics have managed to boost their forces, particularly by linking the issue with recent allegations over a rent scandal involving the Alsatian city.
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Administrator @ June 15, 2006