A Yorkshire Euro-MP has welcomed new proposals which would see the headquarters of the European Union relocated to a neutral territory.
The current system of basing EU institutions jointly in Brussels, Strasbourg and Luxembourg has sometimes been called "schizophrenic". But European decision-makers have been unable to agree on a single location for Parliament, Council and the Commission - until now.
Richard Corbett, a Labour MEP and EU constitutional expert, explained:
"The search for a single location for the 'capital' of the EU, secretly codenamed 'Europa', has been going on for decades.
"We had to find a central location which embodied the ideal of European unity without giving preference to any member state. That was our main stumbling block."
The problem has finally been solved, however, with a proposal to locate both Parliament and the Commission offices on one of the planet Jupiter's largest moons.
Commenting on the proposal, Richard said:
"From now on, there will be no more wasteful shuttling between Brussels and Strasbourg. We will all simply catch a direct shuttle to the outer edge of the solar system, together with our entire legislative agenda.
"That should please the eurosceptics, too. They all think we're on another planet in any case."
Richard denied claims that putting Parliament in orbit around a massive gas giant was intended to conceal the amount of hot air generated by Tory MEPs.
"But that will be a welcome side-effect," he conceded.
"Really, I think the idea is out of this world. I'm absolutely over the moon."
Following suggestions that MEPs would need special training before moving to a low-gravity, low-oxygen ecosystem, Richard replied:
"No, I don't see why we should have any problems adapting to an environment with no atmosphere. After all, we've been using the Strasbourg Parliament building for years."
more information
Press enquiries: Contact Toby Wardman, Press & Communications Officer for Richard Corbett MEP
- phone 0113 245 8987
- e-mail toby@richardcorbett.org.uk
© 2003-2006 Richard Corbett MEP