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Attempt to sabotage Strasbourg reform vote
October 20, 2010 2:00 PM
In a clear sign that they feared they were about to lose a vote for reform led by British MEPs to cut one Strasbourg plenary week from the EP calendar, the French and German leaders of the 2 biggest European Parliament groups (centre-right European People's Party and centre-left Socialists & Democrats) have engineered a postponement of the vote.
Liberal Democrat MEP Sarah Ludford said:
'What a stitch-up! This was obviously a cosy little deal cooked up in a desperate bid to sabotage reform."
"They are seeking to defend the absurd Strasbourg travelling circus which costs £3 million a week (€4 million) on top of the normal EP running costs."
"But this is a move borne of fear that they were about to lose the vote on this amendment. It is a signal that we have the reactionaries on the run, which is the best possible motive for redoubling our efforts."
Note to Editors
The amendment in question was to the 2012 calendar. It is a modest reform to cut Strasbourg sessions from 11 to 10 by merging 2 in September. It is just one step in the 'One Seat' campaign of which the long term objective is to chop Strasbourg sessions altogether and have a single EP seat in Brussels. MEPs cannot deliver that, only the 27 EU governments can, via a Treaty change.
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