Dutch government wants to negotiate on EP seat

Dutch European Affairs Minister Ben Knapen today (16 March) said the Dutch government backs a single seat for the European Parliament, and that he will raise the issue in the context of the revision of the Financial Perspectives.

In written answers to questions put to him by Han ten Broeke, Member of Parliament for Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s ruling Liberal VVD party, the minister also said the Dutch government would work with its EU partners to build support for a change to the Treaty to give the Parliament a single seat. He said that he is following with interest the work being done by the Brussels-Strasbourg Seat Study Group on finding alternatives for Strasbourg.

The minister says last week’s vote on the Parliament’s calendar of meetings for 2012 and 2013, when it decided to combine two monthly plenary sessions during a single week, is “a positive development”.

Below is my own and therefore unofficial translation of Mr. Ten Broeke’s questions and the Minister’s answers.

Answers by Mr. Knapen, State Secretary for Foreign Affairs, to questions from Member of Parliament Ten Broeke (VVD) about a study which shows that an annual saving of 180 million euros can be made in relation to the European Parliament budget

Question 1

Are you familiar with the results of the study ‘A tale of two cities’ that was published on 10 February by one of the Vice-Presidents of the European Parliament, Mr. McMillan-Scott?

Answer

Yes.

Question 2

Do you share the opinion of the British government that this represents “an enormous and unnecessary waste of money and resources”?

Answer

Yes.

Question 3

With reference to the statement by the European Commissioner for Budget, Lewandowski, that the European Institutions themselves cannot avoid making budget cuts in times of austerity, do you agree that having a single seat for the European Parliament could make a significant contribution to this goal, and are you prepared to raise this issue in the context of the revision of the Financial Perspectives?

Answer

Yes. Especially in times of austerity the two seats of the European Parliament and the cost this entails cannot be justified. I will therefore raise this issue in the context of the revision of the Financial Perspectives.

Question 4

Now that the study published by Mr. McMillan-Scott has shown that a large majority of MEPs (88%) favour of a single seat for the European Parliament, in Brussels, and that they are of the opinion that a suitable alternative must be found for Strasbourg, are you prepared to use this new information in bilateral contacts and in the European Council, in line with what was agreed in the coalition agreement, to argue for Brussels as the single seat for the European Parliament and to look for a suitable alternative for Strasbourg?

Answer

I am pleased with this study and consider it supports this government’s goal of a single seat for the European Parliament. As far as the percentage of 88% is concerned I would like to point out that this is the result of a survey of 417 participants, including 61 MEPs (out of the current 736) and 348 EP assistants. The government will certainly use the study to reinforce its case for a single seat in its contacts with EU partners. As you know changing the current practice requires an intergovernmental decision which all member states must ultimately agree to. Right now there is still insufficient support for this among member states. As you know France continues to insist on Strasbourg as the seat. It should be noted that on 10 March the European Parliament voted by a large majority to amend its calendar of meetings for 2012 and 2013, ensuring that two Strasbourg sessions will now be combined. This will result in a saving of one trip there and back during those years. That is a positive development.

Question 5

Do you agree that when looking for a credible solution to the ‘Strasbourg problem’, adequate attention should be paid to compensating France, which for its own reasons remains attached to the two-seat arrangement laid down in the Treaty?

Answer

France will not simply want to give up the Strasbourg seat. I’m aware of the fact that Mr. McMillan-Scott’s study group in the European Parliament is thinking about scenario’s which can serve as compensation for France. I am following this with interest.