126 europarlementariërs wensen vertrek Parlement uit Straatsburg (en)

EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - MEPs have petitioned EU governments, currently negotiating a new Constitution, to scrap the European Parliament's seat in Strasbourg.

A letter signed by 126 MEPs calls on member states to "reconsider the question of the seat of the European Parliament and change the Protocol on the location of seats of the institutions".

They argue it is difficult to justify the expense to EU citizens particularly as after enlargement the "additional cost to the taxpayer will be over 200 million euro per annum".

"Citizens rightly ask themselves why taxpayers' money is spent on unnecessary travel costs and a building in Strasbourg that stands empty for over 300 days a year".

"Strasbourg is difficult to get to from most European capitals, many working hours are spent on travel and the arrangement is especially unfriendly to MEPs and staff with small children", continues the letter.

The issue has long been a bone of contention with MEPs who want to be able to decide themselves whether the Parliament should have one or two seats.

The current treaty states that "the seats of the institutions of the Community shall be determined by common accord of the governments of the Member States".

France lobbied hard in 1992 and succeeded in securing a future for Strasbourg as the official seat of the Parliament.

The building, which opened its doors in 1999, has 20 floors and over 1,100 offices and is situated next to the Palace of Europe and the European Court of Human Rights.

The Parliament meets there 12 times a year.