The novel corona virus also has an impact on politics in Europe. The next week of the European Parliament's session in Strasbourg was moved.
- The novel corona virus also has an impact on political events in Europe.
- The European Parliament session week in Strasbourg has been rescheduled.
- Further restrictions from Covid-19 are expected in the coming days.
The European Parliament's meeting next week was postponed due to the corona virus. Typically, over 700 MEPs travel from Brussels, Belgium, to Strasbourg , France in a plenary week to attend meetings. A fact that should not be expected of the members of the European Parliament in times of the coronavirus.
Coronavirus in Europe: EU Parliament postpones session week - health risks significantly higher
Parliament President David Sassoli confirmed that Parliament's meetings would take place in Brussels next week and based the decision on the development of the Corona epidemic in France: “I have a detailed report on the development from Parliament's medical service today at 6 pm received from Covid-19 that the health risks will be significantly higher when the next plenary session is held in Strasbourg, ”said the Italian.
On the basis of an updated report from the @ Europarl_EN's Medical Service on the evolution of # COVID19, next week's plenary session will exceptionally be held in Brussels due to force majeure. https://t.co/JmbBfekRPt
- David Sassoli (@EP_President) March 5, 2020On the basis of this assessment, he then decided that the necessary security standards for a transfer of parliamentarians to Strasbourg were not in place. France is the country with the second most corona cases in Europe with 377 infected (as of March 5). Only in Germany and Italy have more cases of Covid-19 been confirmed.
Corona virus in Europe: EU Parliament meeting in Strasbourg not possible
Because of these developments, the government has banned large-scale events involving more than 5,000 people. The EU Parliament had already restricted the activities of visitors in Brussels at the beginning of the week, but still announced that the meeting would take place in Strasbourg . The cancellation came on Thursday evening.
"According to the treaties, Parliament is committed to rescheduling a plenary session in Strasbourg," added Sassoli to his announcements. Despite the increased precautionary measures regarding the corona virus, political operations in the EU Parliament should not be restricted.
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