Finnish Presidency should have addressed one-seat petition - Lynne

10.45.12pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 28th Sep 2006

West Midlands Liberal Democrats MEP Liz Lynne has expressed her disappointment at the decision of the EU's Finnish Presidency to ignore a one-million signature petition asking them to scrap the European Parliament's seat in Strasbourg.

The European Parliament building in Strasbourg (European Commission Audiovisual Library)

West Midlands Liberal Democrats MEP Liz Lynne, who has campaigned to have the Parliament permanently based in Brussels and who was one of the signatories to the petition, said "What a disappointment. Despite more than a million people saying that having the European Parliament move between Brussels and Strasbourg every month is a ridiculous waste of money and energy, the Finnish Presidency have decided to do nothing about it.

"The fact that the campaign has got a million signatures means the European Commission has to investigate the issue but it would have been great if the Presidency had made it a priority for the EU leaders.

"I am very pleased the petition has been such a success. I hope the Germans, when they take on the presidency in the new year, recognise that this is an important and pressing issue and give it the attention it deserves."

Editor's Notes

For more information on the petition go to www.oneseat.eu

Twelve times a year, 732 MEPs with 2000 assistants and hundreds more staff move from Brussels to Strasbourg with 3500 trunks of papers at an annual cost of €200 million a year.

For further information, comment or to book an interview, please telephone Liz Lynne on 077644 52725(mobile) or Press Officer Chris Willey on 01789 262785