Under Treaty, the European Parliament is currently forced by the 27 EU governments to shuttle between its base in Brussels, Europe's political capital, and Strasbourg, where it spends four days a month. Brussels is the home of the EU Commission, the Council, the EU's Foreign Service, member state representations, some 3000 journalists, lobbyists and NGOs.
An overwhelming majority of Members of the European Parliament (and their staff) - 77% - want EU governments to revise the issue of Parliament's Seat and working places - some of its staff are based in Luxembourg. Indeed, there is a majority in each political group for this as well as every nationality of MEP, except France and Luxembourg.
MEPs have voted for EU governments to produce a Roadmap to a Single Seat by June 30th 2013. With the economic crisis, fully 88% of MEPs have voted that the EU's governments should address this issue now. MEPs are voting consistently for a Single Seat to make the European Parliament more effective, cost-efficient and environmentally friendly.
The Single Seat hearing in the European Parliament HQ in Brussels on 23 April brought together MEPs, Member State and national parliament representatives as well as other EU institutions to begin forging the Roadmap, whilst also putting public pressure on member state governments to begin negotiations for a Single Seat.
The hearing consisted of an introduction and two panels. The first panel examined the role of Parliament's Seat in the countdown to the May 2014 European elections, and discussed a draft Single Seat statement - to be included in European election manifestos.
The second panel discussed a draft Roadmap towards a Single Seat - to be transmitted to the European Council and the Irish Presidency. Additionally, the hearing considered the ongoing work in the Parliament's Constitutional Affairs Committee, which is to propose how the Treaty should be amended to allow MEPs the right to decide when and where they meet.
In addition, the Petitions Committee is considering a response to the OneSeat petition signed by 1.27 million EU citizens calling for a Single Seat in Brussels.
The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) group has long taken a clear pro-Single Seat stance, as has the European Liberal Party in a resolution of 2011 and political leaders meeting in The Hague (25 February 2013) preparing for the European Elections. Edward McMillan-Scott and Alexander Alvaro, the two ALDE EP Vice-Presidents, chair the Single Seat Campaign. They are backed by a cross-party Steering Group of MEPs and benefit from the pro-bono advice of international law firm Sidley Austin LLP and communications specialists Burson Marsteller.
More info at www.SingleSeat.eu
