European Parliament debates scrapping Strasbourg seat for first time

The European Parliament's plenary session held for the first time on 6 July 2017 a debate on whether to scrap its Strasbourg seat.

Ditching the Strasbourh seat would end the high and much criticised traveling costs that sees MEPs and staff decamp from Brussels to the French city once a month.

As Strasbourg is the official seat of the Parliament, any change to its status would require a change in the European Union's founding treaties by a unanimous decision of EU leaders in the European Council. France's leaders have throughout the years blocked any attempt to bring this discussion onto the table.

• Primary Source

Politico, 05.07.17: Tajani rejects idea of ‘bartering’ Parliament’s Strasbourg seat for medicines agency http://www.politico.eu/article/antonio-tajani-rejects-plan-to-swap-parliaments-strasbourg-seat-for-ema/

EurActiv, 03.07.17: French MEPs prepare to fight over Strasbourg seat https://www.euractiv.com/section/future-eu/news/french-meps-prepare-to-fight-over-strasbourg-seat/

Politico, 28.06.17: Strasbourg swap plan causes French uproar http://www.politico.eu/article/strasbourg-swap-plan-causes-french-uproar/

EurActiv, 06.07.17: France continues to block debate on Strasbourg seat https://www.euractiv.com/section/future-eu/news/france-continues-to-block-debate-on-strasbourg-seat/

ESO: Background information: Strasbourg strikes back http://www.europeansources.info/record/strasbourg-strikes-back/

ESO: Background information: Do MEPs want to keep ‘schlepping’ to Strasbourg? How travel time influences views on the location of the European Parliament http://www.europeansources.info/record/do-meps-want-to-keep-schlepping-to-strasbourg-how-travel-time-influences-views-on-the-location-of-the-european-parliament/

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