Every month, the European Parliament makes the 250 mile trip from Brussels to Strasbourg. The move is estimated to cost in excess of £160 million per year, and causes over 20,000 tonnes of CO2 to be unnecessarily emitted.

However, on the 7th August, a large section of the ceiling inside the Strasbourg parliament’s chamber collapsed, making it impossible to conduct any sessions there.

Conservative MEPs have battled against the wholly unnecessary and wasteful monthly ritual, and over 1 million European citizens have signed a petition calling for the parliament to have just one location. Despite this, the arrangements are set out in the EU’s treaties, and only national governments can change them.

Mr Harbour said: “The European Parliament’s monthly relocation to Strasbourg continues to be profligate and gratuitous. It is bad news for British taxpayers and for the environment too, and we will continue to use every opportunity to bring it to an end.

“MEPs have now set a precedent by moving a sitting to Brussels. There are now no excuses; if they can move one meeting, they should move them all.

“Gordon Brown must now show some leadership in Europe and call on his counterparts to end this waste.”

West Midlands MEP, Malcolm Harbour, reflects on the important subject of toy safety in the European context.

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