Pressrelease from CPR in Brussels 2006-09-18
1 Million European Citizens call for an end to the Traveling Circus:
The European Parliament should work in Brussels
One million European citizens have spoken out on
www.oneseat.eu against the waste of over €200 million a year on the European Parliament seat in Strasbourg. For the first time, citizens from across Europe are giving a signal as to what they see as important for effective governance in the European Institutions: efficiency, accountability and transparency.
The dispersion of Parliament's activities between three working places has a negative impact on time and cost effectiveness and the overall image of the European Union. This waste of tax payers' money is destroying public opinion.
Strasbourg has come to be seen as the symbol of the EU’s gravy train image.
While the Campaign for Parliament Reform (CPR) recognizes the historic importance of the city of Strasbourg, a symbol of reconciliation and European unification, we believe to best ensure political stability and unity in the modern European Union, is to continually move closer to the ideal of an efficient and accountable decision-making body.
The petition,
www.oneseat.eu, has its roots in Article 47 on participatory democracy in the proposed constitution for the European Union. The European Commission wants the citizens in the European Union to become more active and to participate in the debate on European issues.
CPR believes that the European Union must act responsibly considering this outcry of support- especially at a time when the EU is looking to reach out and connect with its citizens, this is a key opportunity to make good on its promises of engaging, listening, and debating.
Vice-President Margot Wallström, institutional relations and communication strategy Commissioner- aka “the citizen’s commissioner”, has openly criticised the monthly traveling circus between Brussels and Strasbourg, in The Guardian on 5 September: “Something [Strasbourg] that was once a very positive symbol of the European Union, reuniting France and Germany, has now become a negative symbol - of wasting money, bureaucracy and the insanity of the Brussels institutions.”
"Mrs Wallström has hit the nail on the head", says MEP Alexander ALVARO, who chairs the Campaign for Parliament Reform. "The biggest traveling circus in Europe devours a minimum of €200 Million annually. We are wasting the money of the European tax payer for no good reason. This legislature alone will amount to more than a billion Euros spent on holding on to a relic of European politics. "
Cecilia Malmström, the Swedish MEP who initiated the OneSeat campaign says: "We are very excited to present the European Commission with the first citizen initiative ever – the fact that citizens have spoken out about this issue shows how they would like the European Union to function – in an efficient and transparent manner. The Commission and Council cannot ignore this strong call for change. They have called for the citizens to make their opinions heard -and here is one strong voice."
"The suspension of monthly Strasbourg sessions is not a question of convenience to the Members of the European Parliament, but rather a question of efficiency of European decision-making. And I see no harm in saving more than 200 million euros of tax-payers' money on the way", says Finnish MEP Piia-Noora Kauppi.
Friederique Ries, CPR campaigner and MEP from Belgium, calls for more awareness on the full extent of the cost: "This monthly trip is not only expensive; it is also a cost in terms of energy, time and thus efficiency."
Scottish member Catherine Stihler says: "It is more important than ever for the European Parliament to work efficiently and effectively. Organising the monthly trek is already difficult enough and with two more countries joining the EU in 2007, we need to sort the question of the Parliament's seat once and for all."
"We are thrilled by the overwhelming positive response from citizens across Europe to the oneseat.eu initiative. In an unprecedented way, Europeans are calling for practical institutional reform at the European level. They understand that when the European Parliament's travelling circus finally ends, the Parliament will be able to use its resources to more efficiently and effectively work on behalf of all Europeans. I look forward to the Commission's response to its citizens' demands," says Cem Özdemir, German Green MEP.
"It is absurd that the only directly elected European body does not have the sovereign right to decide where it sits. I feel supported by Commissioners Wallström and Mandelson. I hope, however, that they will not leave it as words alone, but that they will follow it up with concrete actions. I am glad that the European citizens are calling for an end to this unjustifiable waste of money. They have a right to demand it and they should be heard," appeals MEP Edith Mastenbroek, the Netherlands.
CPR will hold a full press conference on Thursday, 21 September at 11:30. Details to follow.
For further information, please contact Margot Lotz at +32 477 47 87 08
or Anders Ekberg at +32 476 767 541 // +46 70 238 90 62
CPR is composed of over 130 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) from across the political spectrum and from most EU Member States, who share the belief that the European Parliament is in urgent need of internal reform if it is to regain its credibility with voters. CPR is committed to enhancing the efficiency, transparency, and effectiveness of the European Parliament. www.ep-reform.net