Finnish MEP Anneli Jäätteenmäki would exchange Parliament Strasbourg seat for EMA
PRESS RELEASE
22th of June 2017 – BRUSSELS
Finnish MEP Anneli Jäätteenmäki would exchange Parliament Strasbourg seat for EMA
Finnish MEP Anneli Jäätteenmäki (ALDE, Centre Party) proposes to relocate the European Medical Agency (EMA) from London to Strasbourg. In exchange, the seat of the European Parliament in Strasbourg should be abolished.
Because of Brexit, Britain will have to forfeit the Medical Agency. A number of EU countries are campaigning to become the new seat of the EMA. Ambitious campaigns are fiercely underway.
– The EMA should not become an additional stumbling stone between Member States. Instead, a wise relocation scheme could solve another significant problem churning the credibility of European institutions: the two seats of the European Parliament, Jäätteenmäki says and sends her greetings to leaders gathering at the European Summit this Thursday and Friday.
Giving up the two seat practice would bring in savings of 180 million euros annually.
– The pointless and polluting caravan of trucks, trains and people every month must come to an end. Moreover, the Medical Agency could be housed in the facilities of the Parliament in Strasbourg, Jäätteenmäki reasons.
Three fourths of the Members of the European Parliament support a single seat for the Parliament.
– Unfortunately, we MEPs have no binding say on the matter. Abolishing the two seat policy requires EU treaty change and unanimity in the EU Council, Jäätteenmäki regrets.
Media contact
Anneli Jäätteenmäki, MEP
anneli.jaatteenmaki@europarl.europa.eu
Iiro Kangas, communications advisor
+3224857614
iiro.kangas@europarl.europa.eu
More info about the costs of two seat system: http://www.singleseat.eu/facts-figures/