Each plenary costs 15 millions euros and produce 1600 tonnes of CO2 emissions
From Brussels to Strasbourg and from Strasbourg to Brussels. To meet certain Treaty requirements MEPs – and all the parliamentary staff and assistants – must make
the time-consuming and money-burning monthly trek from Belgium to France every month. A move that costs each time 15 millions, the same amount of money that could be used to pay 500 very good salary for one year. Each year, the total expenditure is 200 millions euro: wasted.
This is an old problem that is going on for years but in time of economic crisis and austerity it seems even more a scandal. For that reason Ian Hudghton, Green Mep and president of the Scottish National Party, critics the move saying that it is “madness”. Hudghton is sure: “The European Parliament’s monthly trek to Strasbourg and back is an enormous waste of time and money” now more then ever “with millions of people across Europe suffering severe financial hardship, this monthly madness cannot be justified any longer”.
For that reason many Meps propose to change the treaties. On the 9th of March the Parliament adopted two acts which have changed the EU Parliament’s calendar in 2012 and 2013, erasing a plenary session in October for each of the two years. “It’s estimated that cutting back on just one month’s travel as we’d suggested, would have saved fifteen million euros and some 1600 tonnes of CO2 emissions” underlined Hudghton.
A good decision for budget and environment. But not for France that went to the European Court of justice and stopped the Parliament decision. “I hope that the Court – added the Green Mep – when it delivers its verdict later this year, will uphold those treaties in the interests of Europe’s citizens, rather than Europe’s governments and vested interests”.
