BRUSSELS. Heating in his buildings European Parliament will be closed on Thursday evening and will be lit again on Monday morning, in accordance with the latest instructions, in order to energy saving. The European Parliament, which has developed large-scale legislation on energy saving at the pan-European level, also monitors its own consumption.
Until recently, heating and cooling have operated as usual on Fridays, despite the fact that many MEPs are usually absent on this day as they travel to their countries. During the weekend there was heating and cooling, but less. Now, in addition to the “frozen” three days, an order has been given to close heating and cooling on holidays, and on the remaining days the European Parliament is going to lower thermostats to 19 degrees Celsius, measures of which, as the European Parliament’s Environment Service estimates, they will save 2 million euros in year.
In mid-September, the House of Representatives voted to set an energy savings target of 14.5% at the European level, upping the 13% target proposed by the European Commission. The original Fit for 55 package introduced in 2021 offered savings of just 9%.
The heating will be closed from Thursday evening until Monday morning to save energy – the maximum temperature is 19 degrees.
Once a month, the European Parliament moves from Brussels to Strasbourg, located 400 km away, for a plenary session. The move, mandated by European treaties and fully supported by France, was again flagged by some MEPs as a waste of time. “If we ask everyone to save energy, we are not responsible for heating two buildings and making trips that are not necessary,” reads a letter addressed by German MEP Peter Liese to the president of the European People’s Party. European Parliament Robert Metsol, pointing out that European treaties provide for force majeure exceptions to the resettlement obligation.
From March to December 2020, plenary meetings were not held in Strasbourg due to the pandemic. France refuses to let this happen again and points out that a building in Strasbourg is more energy efficient than one in Brussels. For a small city like Strasbourg, the monthly arrival of thousands of MEPs, aides, partners, administrative staff and journalists is a real injection into the local economy.
Source: Kathimerini
Anna White is a journalist at 247 News Reel, where she writes on world news and current events. She is known for her insightful analysis and compelling storytelling. Anna’s articles have been widely read and shared, earning her a reputation as a talented and respected journalist. She delivers in-depth and accurate understanding of the world’s most pressing issues.