Background

A number of European institutions were established in Brussels, Luxembourg and Strasbourg - and Paris - after the Second World War. Belgium was created in 1830 as a buffer between warring France and the German states. Strasbourg is a symbolic Franco-German city overrun by war in 1870, 1914 and 1939. Luxembourg is traditionally a banking entrepot between the two.

Governments around Europe picked up ideas for a better future. Winston Churchill urged a United States of Europe and hoped that one day, the countries behind the Iron Curtain would be free again, a theme picked up by other statesmen.

In 1949, the city of Strasbourg was chosen as the home of the Council of Europe with a parliamentary assembly and associated Court of Human Rights. Both still exist, with a membership of more than 40 countries loosely associated through a number of conventions and agreements.

The EU today

However, a core group of European countries soon decided to move to a closer association, the Common Market, based on pooled resources and a common decision-making process, with its own Assembly, later the European Parliament (EP), which originally used the Council of Europe's Strasbourg chamber.

Brussels accidentally became a useful meeting point and Luxembourg also offered itself as a small country location with a European vocation.

From these modest beginnings a major battle of buildings, expenditure and national pride has led to the Tale of Two Cities - Brussels and Strasbourg.

The EP, the democratic heart of the EU, is still obliged by governments to meet in Strasbourg although Europe is now united and free, extends to the borders of Russia and MEPs have decisive powers over almost all policy areas except where they meet. The monthly trek to Strasbourg is misunderstood by the media, who assume that MEPs actually like it.

Today, the EP is effectively based in Brussels, where the EU Commission, Council and other EU agencies are based, as well as all EU diplomatic representation, associations, lobby groups, NGOs, journalists and NATO. Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have their offices and parliamentary assistants there, with comprehensive facilities, accommodation and international travel connections.

Almost all committee meetings and political group meetings take place in Brussels and all the parliament's associated staff are now based there. Six times a year, two-day mini-plenary sessions are held in the Brussels chamber.

Governments insist on Strasbourg

The EP is obliged by the 1997 Treaty of Amsterdam to meet in Strasbourg monthly for four-day sessions (originally five-day sessions) at an annual cost of more than €200 million. Strasbourg struggles to meet this challenge, with limited hotel space. Only six EU capitals now have direct air connections with its small airport (including the inter-city hub at Paris CDG airport).

The EPs buildings themselves cause controversy: the roof of the Strasbourg hemicycle fell in during the summer recess of 2008 and other structural defects were found; substantial payments to the city of Strasbourg were hidden in the rent paid by the EP over many years for buildings. In Luxembourg, there has been controversy over a new building for the 3,000 EP staff (mainly translators, fnance and administration). In Brussels, questions have been asked about the way in which contracts were awarded for the building complex.

There have been no debates or reports in the EP since 1992. With its new powers under the Lisbon Treaty and at a time of economic austerity, it is time for the EP to re-examine the way it works and where it works.