FRENCH PRESIDENT CALLED UPON TO STOP TRAVELLING CIRCUS

Fiona Hall has co-signed a letter to the President of France, Nicholas Sarkozy, on the occasion of his official visit to the European Parliament today, 13th November.

The letter suggests alternative uses for the seat of the European Parliament in Strasbourg in order to put an end to the monthly move from Brussels to Strasbourg. Currently, MEPs, along with all their staff and required documents, are required by treaty to up-root to Strasbourg for the full sessions of the Parliament. This is done at huge cost – estimated at £140 million a year – and is environmentally damaging as the travel uses huge amounts of energy and adds to CO₂ emissions.

Commenting after signing the letter, Ms Hall said:

“I am asking the President to consider real alternatives for the use of the seat of the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

“One argument often given against abandoning the seat is the fact that a new building was purpose-built for housing the full Parliament and it would remain unused if the Parliament stayed in Brussels.  

"The letter also sets out for Mr Sarkozy the fact that each year the travelling results in a further 18.9 tonnes of CO₂ being emitted into the atmosphere. This is the equivalent of 13 transatlantic flights!

“The Treaty of Lisbon is the beginning of a new chapter in the history of the European Union, and it is time we set aside the European Parliament travelling circus.”