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Reuters, 15.5.2006: EU lawmakers, Strasbourg clash over "rip off" rent
STRASBOURG, France, May 15 (Reuters)
EU lawmakers accused Strasbourg on Monday of pocketing an unfair cut of the rent the European Parliament pays the city for its buildings, but the city's mayor dismissed the charge.
The parliament, which meets for a week each month in the city, launched an investigation into allegations the French city may have overcharged by 2.7 million euros ($3.48 million) a year for the last 25 years.
The allegations have boosted a campaign to end the so-called "travelling circus" under which the assembly sits in both Brussels and the French city of Strasbourg, costing EU taxpayers 200 million euros ($258 million) a year in travel expenses.
Strasbourg Mayor Fabienne Keller said the difference between what the parliament pays in rent to the city, and what the city passes on to real estate firm SCI-Erasme, which helped develop the site, was due to differing types of contracts.
"The city has to assume risk of vacancy. If the parliament leaves, the city is obliged to honour the contract with SCI," Keller told the committee which is leading the enquiry.
Markus Ferber, the centre-right lawmaker heading the investigation, said EU leaders agreed years ago to base parliament in Strasbourg, so there was no risk of vacancy.
"This is a bit of a steal isn't it, really. You've made quite a penny ... Could you not say we have legal certainty now, so let's do things differently," Ferber said.
Lawmakers said Strasbourg had been less than open with its dealings, with one MEP speaking through a mask because he said the whole affair stank.
EU leaders will discuss the issue at a summit in June, but Keller said rent and "the specific issue of Strasbourg, the capital of Europe" should be kept separate.
"It cannot be considered as a subject of political controversy ... I would say its the meetings that you have in Brussels that cost 200 million a year," she said.
A change to the two-venue system would need an amendment in the European Union treaties agreed unanimously by EU member states, including France, which considers the Strasbourg seat a symbol of Franco-German friendship and of national importance.
Last week the Campaign for Parliament Reform, represented by over 100 European deputies from 14 countries, launched an Internet-based petition to win 1 million signatures calling for an end to Strasbourg's sittings. It had gathered 30,000 signatures by Friday.
By Huw Jones
Erschienen als Reuters-Meldung, 15.5.2006.
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