The European Union knows how to waste money and there are few greater nonsenses than the monthly charade that is known as the “travelling circus” to Strasbourg.
Every month, all MEPs, staff and hangers-on pack up their bags, offices and kitchen sinks in Brussels and relocate for a few days 400 kilometres away across the French border in Strasbourg. The farce is estimated to cost taxpayers over €200 million per year.
Even the MEPs have come to view these Strasbourg sittings of the European Parliament as nonsensical, having voted earlier this year by 429 to 184 in favour of settling for a single seat.
I appeared on Euronews last week to discuss the issue, finding common cause with Yorkshire Lib Dem MEP Edward McMillan-Scott, who has long been campaigning for an end to this dual seat arrangement. You can watch the clip above.
However, the MEPs are powerless to change the arrangement: the Strasbourg seat is now enshrined in the European treaties, so it would need unanimity at a European Council meeting to make a change.
Ashley Fox, the Conservative MEP for South West England and Gibraltar, has just launched an e-petition, urging the Prime Minister to take the issue to a European Council and demand the necessary change to bring an end to the Strasbourg circus. Click here to add your signature.
