At the EC and EIB the “anti Strasbourg” coalition widens

Rehn, De Gucht and Kroes sign a document against the Alsatian office in the European Parliament

The French MEP Trautmann (S&D): “It’s up to the states to decide; they remain neutral”

The battle to create a single Headquarters for the European Parliament collects new and distinguished supporters. Three European Commissioners signed a declaration from Alde (Alliance of Democrats and Liberalists for Europe) that asks the EU leaders to study “the options to move the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers to a single Seat in Brussels.” These are not Commissioners of little recognition, in fact we are talking about: Olli Rehn, European Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs; Karel De Gucht, European Commissioner for Commerce and Neelie Kroes, Italian Digital Agenda.

“Their stance is legitimate and also personal.” Olivier Bailly, spokesperson for Berlaymont Palace pointed out yesterday. “The Commission – he explained – is the guardian of Treaties, and the Treaties say that a decision for an eventual single Headquarters must be taken by the heads of state unanimously.”  “However this is not to say – Bailly clarified – that individual Commissioners cannot take personal positions on the debate, as deep down they are and continue to be politicians.”

Also the Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, the British Vice-Prime Minister Nick Clegg, the German Minister of Economy Philipp Rösler, even the President of the European Investment Bank Werner Hoyer appear among the other signers of the document.

The Headquarters in Strasbourg must be defended with vigor because it is prestigious for France and provides significant economic advantage; as usual it’s the same French. The European Socialist MEP, Catherine Trautmann (governor of Strasbourg from 1989-2001) is the spokesperson who attacks the three Commissioners. “But shouldn’t the main responsibility of the Commissioners, ‘guardians of the treaties,’ be to respect the regulations of the Treaties?” “I remind them – Trautmann declares – that it is up to the member states to decide where the headquarters of the institutions are, especially with such a recent verdict from the European Court of Justice which establishes Strasbourg as the single Headquarters of Parliament.” The French European MEP also has something to say to the EIB President: “The role that covers them would call for certain moderation, as well as neutrality.” According to Trautmann, the Liberals would not have the right to interfere in this issue because “they see the liberalization of markets as a single perspective and the precariousness of workers as social policy,” and therefore according to her, in light of the fact that the Liberalists solution “aggravated the crisis,” their campaign for the single headquarters would only be a “diversion” to look away from these politicians that “already demonstrated their toxicity for Europe.”

 Alfonso Bianchi

For further information:
– Parlamento: nel 2013 12 plenarie a Straburgo. Francia contenta, altri no
– Vogliamo una sede unica per il Parlamento europeo
– Prigionieri dei francesi a Strasburgo
– Hollande difende la sede di Strasburgo del Parlamento europeo