Majority of MEPs polled reject wasteful travelling circus

4.50.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 13th Jun 2007

A poll initiated by Liberal Democrat MEPs has revealed an overwhelming majority, 89%, of MEPs not only want one permanent seat for the European Parliament but also that 81% want the seat to be in Brussels and so end the monthly trips to Strasbourg, estimated to cost around 200 million Euros (£130 million) a year. 84% also believed the Parliament should be able to decide on its own the location of its seat.

Of the 785 ballot papers, 306 were returned. This represents 39% of all members and gives a representative result.

Commenting, Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP said:

"This is a very clear result from the largest ever poll of its kind. MEPs are well aware that the costly travelling circus between Brussels and Strasbourg brings the parliament no respect. Whatever the arguments of the past, a huge majority want the European Parliament to be a strong and democratic voice for the people of Europe firmly located at the heart of the EU institutions. Those in favour of the status quo, seemingly an ever decreasing minority, have a duty to respect the wishes of Europe's citizens and its elected representatives. Now is the time for change."