Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Officials in the European Parliament are evaluating a €20 million proposal for the monthly dismantling of scaffolding to ensure the debating chamber remains accessible during renovation works, the Telegraph reported.
As reported by the Telegraph, plans for the refurbishment of the institution’s Paul-Henri Spaak building in Brussels.
According to one plan discussed by the Bureau, the Parliament’s governing body would keep the Hemicycle debating chamber open throughout the three-year construction period. A document stated: “Maintaining additional part-sessions on the construction site would require special arrangements to be made before and after each session to ensure safety, access and support.
This affects the total duration and budget of the project, projected to be 6-12 months and EUR 20-22 million.
Sources indicate that this would require dismantling the scaffolding monthly as the chamber is utilized by debating MEPs.
The internal document indicates that the plan may still be rejected, as alternative strategies are also being considered. An additional proposal would keep the chamber closed while allowing debates to take place. “through a digital connection between two meeting rooms”. Anders Vistisen, a Danish MEP and chief whip for the Patriots for Europe group, remarked:
The notion of scaffolding being erected and dismantled every month for just one day’s work is utterly absurd.
It would be like a scene in a Benny Hill comedy sketch. But when it’s not their personal money, MEPs are content to spend it freely.
Another option being considered is to completely move to the EU Parliament’s seat in Strasbourg.
What role does Belgium play in the parliament’s location debate?
Belgium has emphasized that its Brussels location deserves an equitable amount of debates, as outlined in the EU treaties. The institution frequently faces criticism for the so-called “EU’s travelling circus,” where the Parliament, along with its MEPs and staff, relocates to France each month for a week of discussions, costing nearly €100 million annually.
The Spaak building was first utilised by the EU Parliament in 1993. By 2012, an internal audit revealed that it required extensive renovations. Planning documents indicate that the building does not comply with EU green regulations and the so-called “Eurocodes” for structural integrity. The estimated cost of the reconstruction work is as high as €455 million and it is expected to be completed by 2030.
Even though there is a plan to reopen the building for Belgium’s 200th independence anniversary, a start date for the works has not been confirmed yet.
