Für den automatischen Anhang, der neuerdings an vielen Mails von Brüsseler Funktionären dranhängt, gibt es noch keinen rechten Namen. Nennen wir ihn einfach einmal Gewissenszwicker. Der Gewissenszwicker kommt in verschiedenen Formen daher, aber immer mit demselben Erziehungsziel. Ein typisches Beispiel rundete neulich die Mail eines Europaparlamentariers ab. Unter der Grußformel stand geschrieben:
Sparen Sie Energie. Schalten Sie Ihren Computer aus, wenn Sie abends das Büro verlassen.
Und:
Bitte drucken Sie diese E-Mail nur aus, wenn es absolut notwendig ist.
Ich überlegte einen Moment. Dann klickte ich sehr entschlossen auf die „Druck“-Taste.
Es ist nämlich absolut notwendig, darauf hinzuweisen, dass es heuchlerischer kaum noch geht. Eben jene Mail kam aus Straßburg. Und über Straßburg muss man wissen, dass es einen ebenso luxuriösen wie überflüssigen Zweitwohnsitz für das Europäische Parlament beherbergt. Alle drei Wochen packen die 785 Abgeordneten in Brüssel ihre Koffer und zuckeln samt Mitarbeitern, Dolmetschern und Sekretariat 430 Kilometer ins Elsaß. Eine Kolonne von Lastwagen bringt jedem von ihnen einen Stahlkasten mit Akten hinterher, die stets vor den Abgeordnetenzimmern bereitstehen (siehe unser Foto). Dieser Wanderzirkus soll, so die Erzählung, das Zusammenwachsen Europas fördern.
Das ist natürlich völliger Mumpitz.
In Wahrheit möchten die Franzosen schlicht nicht auf die Parlamentarier- und Lobbyistenhorden verzichten, die in schöner Regelmäßigkeit die Kassen der Wirtsleute, Hoteliers und Taxifahrer füllen. Was dieser Wahnwitz die Steuerzahler kostet, weiß niemand so genau, aber es gibt Schätzungen, die von 200 Millionen Euro Umzugskosten pro Jahr ausgehen.
Und wissen Sie was?
Im Brüsseler Parlamentsbau brennt natürlich trotzdem die ganze Zeit das Licht.
Fragt man EP-Abgeordnete, warum sie daran nichts ändern, antworten sie, dass die beiden Standorte des Parlaments von Verträgen festgelegt worden sind, die nicht das Parlament zu verantworten hatte. Und das stimmt auch. Die nationalen Regierungen haben die entsprechenden Absprachen getroffen, und vor allem Frankreich wehrt sich gegen jede Änderung des Status quo.
Allerdings steht kein anderes EU-Organ so in der Verantwortung steht wie das EP, diesen Zustand zu ändern. Zwar gibt es immer wieder einzelne Abgeordnete, die gegen den Wanderzirkus protestieren, zum Beispiel diejenigen, die sich in der Kampagne für eine Parlamentsreform zusammengefunden haben. Sie haben sogar eine Reihe von Vorschlägen formuliert, wie Frankreich und Straßburg für den Verlust des Parlaments entschädigt werden könnte.*
Warum aber unterstützen gerade einmal hundert Abgeordnete diese Kampagne, also nicht einmal ein Siebtel von ihnen? Wo bleibt ein Mehrheitsbeschluss des Parlaments, der ein klares Signal an die Mitgliedsländer aussenden würde? Welche Partei hat das Straßburg-Hin-und-Her je zu einem Wahlkampfthema gemacht? Warum setzt das Parlament das Thema nicht gerade jetzt, da Nicolas Sarkozy die Ratspräsidentschaft übernimmt, lautstark auf seine Agenda?
Die Straßburg-Woche ist mittlerweile ein versteinerter Skandal. Höchste Zeit also, den Abgeordneten mit einem eigenen Gewissenszwicker zu antworten:
Sparen Sie Strom, Sprit und Steuergeld. Schalten Sie eines Ihrer Parlamente aus, wenn Sie es das nächste Mal verlassen.
—
* Hier die Forderungen der Gruppe im Original:
THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT BASED FULL-TIME IN BRUSSELS!
BUT WITH A POLITICAL FUTURE FOR STRASBOURG!
THE PROBLEM
The European Parliament (EP) is the only parliament in the world that has more than one official seat. It is divided between Strasbourg, Luxembourg and Brussels with Strasbourg as its official meeting place. Unfortunately, the EP is also the only parliament in the world that does not have the right to decide upon the location of its seat. This right is exclusively reserved for European Heads of State and Government who can only revise their decision by unanimity. This means that the French would have to vote against Strasbourg themselves – which is so far a utopia.
THE CONSEQUENCES IN PRACTISE
Twelve times a year, the parliamentary ‚caravan‘ has to leave Brussels – its actual workplace where the deputies work three times as many days – to go to its official seat in Strasbourg. Every month, 785 MEPs, their assistants and a large part of the administration move – along with six trailers full of paperwork. The costs for the twelve relocations per year and the maintenance of buildings in Strasbourg during a whole year amount to 250 million euros. During one legislature, this represents 1.25 billion euros.
In terms of C02 emissions, the trips to Strasbourg are absurd. Every year, they create 18.900 tonnes of CO2 emissions – the equivalent of 13.000 transatlantic flights.
THE SOLUTION…
In 2006 and 2007, more than a million Europeans have signed the online petition www.oneseat.eu which calls for a single seat for the European Parliament. However, the European Commission and the Council of Ministers have so far blocked this unprecedented pan-European initiative, referring to the previous decision in favour of Strasbourg.
As initiators and supporters of the campaign for a single seat, we have great expectations of the new President of the Republic of France, Nicolas Sarkozy, who, during the first months of his presidency has demonstrated his capacity to cut ties with older and obsolete traditions.
It is clear that a future „absence“ of the European Parliament in Strasbourg will require finding a solid alternative. In this perspective, we present some innovative ideas.
1. „SCIENCEBOURG“ – STRASBOURG AS THE EUROPEAN CAPITAL OF SCIENCE
In autumn 2007, the European Union decided to found the EUROPEAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (EIT); the headquarter’s seat of the Institute will be decided over the next 18 months. Given the already existing strong, cutting edge research structures in Member States, the EIT will not be a centralized institution comparable to the American MIT, but an overarching structure. It will connect national networks amongst each other and with the economy.
Similarly, without an official seat although already in use, the EUROPEAN RESEARCH COUNCIL (ERC) primarily coordinates fundamental research within the EU. Its innovative work that began in 2007 with the 7th Framework Program consists of investing billions of euros dedicated to research for viable projects. The synergies coinciding with the goals of EIT are considerable.
THE EIT AND ERC CENTRES IN STRASBOURG will encourage competition on a global scale in research and teaching. It will further coordinate European research and tackle the brain drain; furthermore, European innovative and academic excellence will have a new and solid frame of reference.
This new knowledge infrastructure in Strasbourg would be the ideal seat for the EUROPEAN PATENT COURT. Arbitrating over the raw materials of innovation with close proximity to Research centres and alongside the European Court of Human Rights would be very clever. The European Patent Office, situated in Munich is not dependent upon the location of the Court, as it is separated from the EU institutional structure. The German Justice Minister also supports the establishment of an autonomous European Patent Court.
Another perspective: there are draft plans for a EUROPEAN UNIVERSITY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES. At Strasbourg, it could be based upon the traditional symbolism of a Union of peoples at the heart of Europe; furthermore, it would be a subtle complement to the natural sciences privileged by the EIT and the ERC. Such a University would bring students from across Europe to Strasbourg and would ultimately be the most far-reaching project for the future of „Sciencebourg“.
2. STRASBOURG – AT THE CUTTING EDGE OF EUROPEAN POLITICS
The quarterly EUROPEAN SUMMITS that currently take place in Brussels would – once they are held in Strasbourg – bring at least as much or probably even more prestige and benefits than the monthly plenary sessions of the Parliament. The meetings of Heads of States and Government attract the international press like a magnet and this would emphasise the symbolic character of the city. European Summits far away from day-to-day political life in Brussels in a city that symbolises European unification would create a strong new synonym (such as ‚Davos‘) – especially if the political positioning of the city of Strasbourg was enforced by
… the EUROPEAN CONGRESS. This new format of bi-annual European political summits would include Heads of State and Government, the European Commission, as well as representatives from the European Parliament and from the national parliaments of the Member States. The Congress would meet to discuss the status quo of the European Union and its future. It would develop a political culture acquired during the European Convention, in order to render European Union politics more democratic and open to citizens‘ concerns.
3. „STRASBOURG DC“
In order to develop a real European Common Foreign and Security Policy, and to get to know each other, building confidence between the national diplomatic services will be crucial. This is why the EP buildings in Strasbourg can have a ‚reinvigorated‘ function as a TRAINING CENTRE FOR DIPLOMATIC SERVICES. For a period of 6 months, the training of all diplomats from the 27 Member States should take place there. The offices of MEPs, which have private bathrooms could be used to accommodate the students while meeting rooms will be transformed into classrooms. In this way, the EP premises would be used to full capacity.
4. OPERATIONAL AND COORDINATION CENTRE OF EUROPEAN ENERGY
European energy issues are demanding more and more long-term cross-border solutions. As the European Agency for Nuclear Energy already has its seat in France, a further energy centre in Strasbourg would be a logical next step. Ludmila Petránová, the former Director of the Czech Electrical Network Agency had already made a similar proposition during a public hearing on European Energy Policy at the European Parliament on 27 February 2007.
5. THE EUROPEAN COURT OF JUSTICE
With the European Court of Human Rights already having its seat in Strasbourg, the European Court of Justice could also be established there. Strasbourg would therefore become a European Centre for Justice. Luxembourg, where the Court currently has its seat and which also hosts the administrative headquarters of the Parliament and the European Investment Bank would thus lose an institution. This loss, however, is defensible under the common judicial tradition that would develop in Strasbourg and whose effects would be considerable.
In theory, the same argument could be made to defend moving the EUROPEAN INVESTMENT BANK to Strasbourg. However, it would be weakened by the absence of a financial tradition in Strasbourg.
We call on President Sarkozy to take on board one of these innovative ideas and to release the European Parliament from the limitations that history has imposed upon it.
We call on Chancellor Angela Merkel and her Council colleagues to support France in this ‚renaissance‘ effort for the city of Strasbourg.
While the Lisbon Treaty put the future of Europe back on course, Strasbourg – which for many Europeans had become the symbol of a vested acquisition – should have the opportunity to become a symbol of new collaboration.