The persistent division of the European Parliament’s seat between Brussels and Strasbourg continues to draw sharp criticism, with Vice-President Katarina Barley branding the arrangement as unpopular and inefficient. In a recent interview with the “Meine schwerste Entscheidung” podcast, produced by the Funke-Mediengruppe, Barley expressed the widespread discontent felt by parliamentarians regarding the logistical and financial burden of maintaining two locations.
Barley noted that the vast majority of MEPs maintain residences in Brussels, rendering the frequent journeys to Strasbourg – often requiring only a single staff member to accompany them – a significant inconvenience. While acknowledging a limited enthusiasm among French representatives and those residing near Strasbourg in Baden-Württemberg, she conceded that the travel is largely viewed as an unwelcome obligation.
The issue, however, appears deeply entrenched within the EU’s foundational treaties. Barley acknowledged that a modification of these treaties – a necessary step to consolidate the parliament’s operations into a single location – faces an insurmountable obstacle: France’s likely opposition. This underscores a wider political reality; altering key EU agreements requires unanimous consent, effectively handing a veto power to individual member states.
The ongoing stalemate exposes a crucial tension between the symbolic commitment to European unity and the pragmatic realities of institutional governance. While the Strasbourg arrangement remains ostensibly a compromise reflecting historical considerations and national sensitivities, its practical implications – inflated operational costs and reduced parliamentary efficiency – are increasingly prompting questions about the prioritisation of tradition over functionality. The situation highlights the challenges in achieving meaningful reform within the EU system, where even deeply unpopular arrangements can prove extraordinarily difficult to dismantle due to political considerations and the complexities of international agreement.