In Strasbourg today the European Parliament voted to reduce the number of weeks it plans to meet in Strasbourg in the next two years.

Although Parliament is able to vote on its calendar of meetings the Treaty requires it to meet in Strasbourg twelve times per year whilst its main workplace is Brussels.

The technical amendment approved today (with the backing of the majority of the Liberal group) effectively deleted one of two part-sessions foreseen next October and divides the second October session into two parts thus respecting the legal requirement to maintain 12 meetings in Strasbourg - the historical seat of the European Parliament.

Edward McMillan-Scott, EP Vice-President and long campaigner for Parliament to have the right to decide on its own seat and schedule welcomed the vote:
"MEPs expressed a clear will today that we rationalise our agenda. In times of budget austerity it is right that we reduce unnecessary costs from our meetings. There was clearly no need to meet twice in one month which was an obligation imposed upon us by Member States as a result of there being no plenary session during August when Parliament is in recess. This is a victory for a sensible and rational discussion on Parliament's prerogative to meet at the time and place of its own choosing."

Alexander Alvaro (FDP, Germany), who is currently leading an informal campaign for a single seat of Parliament in Brussels added:
"We have taken several initiatives in recent years to highlight the additional costs and absurdity of leading a double life in Brussels and Strasbourg. Strasbourg is a beautiful city and has a special place in the history of the European Parliament on the cross-roads between France and Germany but it is becoming increasingly difficult to justify the constant travel to and fro, especially when we should be more conscious of keeping our costs down as well as those of the journalists, interest groups and other institutions who have to follow us every month."

MEP voted by 357 to 253, with 40 abstentions, in favour of deleting one week in Strasbourg in both  2012 and 2013. Two separate weeks of plenary meetings planned for October of each year will now be held during a single week.