Mr. Gay Mitchell, MEP:

I missed that point and I thank the Senator for reminding me. This frustrates MEPs terribly. For example, accessing Strasbourg is a nightmare. Although it is in France, no matter what way one goes, it takes about eight hours to get from Ireland to Strasbourg. Many MEPs from some of the eastern and central European countries and Cyprus have difficulty even getting to Brussels because direct flights are not available in all cases. The problem is that the treaties stipulate that the Parliament must sit at Strasbourg. This is much more strongly defended than the Shannon stopover, I can assure the House. For example, when I went to Strasbourg first, I could not get a hotel room in Strasbourg with the result that I had to stay in a place called Kork on the German side of the border. This is an issue which exercises both the French and the Germans. I had discussions recently on this matter with a senior official in the Parliament. The long-term solution might be to move the Council of the Regions and other bodies permanently to Strasbourg. The public outcry is being led in the Parliament by a British Member who is Vice President of the Parliament. He is quite rightly very exercised by this issue. However, his campaign makes it more difficult for the French to do something about it. A treaty change will be required. People are exercised about how to bring about that change. There is a range of institutions which could be located permanently at Strasbourg. An itinerant Parliament is not a good idea. Strasbourg is a nice, small place but moving around is very costly. However, it is necessary to remember the value rather than the cost of things. The European Union is a work in progress; we are not there yet. I expect the Parliament will have one location when everything settles down.