European Parliament in Luxembourg
Encyclopedia
The European Parliament
's presence in Sandweiler
currently consists of the Parliament's secretariat
, although the Parliament had held plenary session
s in the city for a brief period.
, which combined the executives of the three Communities into a single institutional structure. However with the merged executives, the Commission and most departments were grouped together in Brussels, rather than Luxembourg. To compensate Luxembourg for the loss, the agreement granted a city the right to host a number bodies, including the Secretariat of the Assembly
(now of the Parliament).
Despite the 1965 agreement however, the Parliament's seat was a source of contention. Wishing to be closer to the activities in Brussels and Luxembourg, a few plenary sessions were held by the Parliament between 1967 and 1981 in Luxembourg instead of Strasbourg – against the wishes of France and in 1981 it returned to holding sessions entirely in Strasbourg.
There are a handful of buildings in Luxembourg used by the Parliament. The city hosts the Secretariat of the European Parliament
(employing over 4000 people), mostly based in the Kirchberg district
.
The buildings in use are the ones named after Robert Schuman
(49.618176°N 6.140885°W) and Konrad Adenauer
(49.621686°N 6.146743°W) and most recently two new tower buildings (TOA and TOB) either side of Av. John F. Kennedy (49.619566°N 6.142956°W).
Some services are installed in the Gold Bell building (49.587175°N 6.113736°W) in the south of the city. The old hemicycle
in Luxembourg still exists despite no longer being used by the Parliament since 1981 (it is now the seat of the EFTA Court
).
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
's presence in Sandweiler
Sandweiler
Sandweiler is a commune and town in southern Luxembourg. It is located east of Luxembourg City., the town of Sandweiler, which lies in the south-west of the commune, has a population of 2,474...
currently consists of the Parliament's secretariat
Secretariat of the European Parliament
The secretariat of the European Parliament is the administrative body of the European Parliament headed by a Secretary-General. It is based in the Kirchberg district of Luxembourg and around the Brussels-Luxembourg Station in Brussels and employs 4000 officials.-Secretary-General:The Secretary...
, although the Parliament had held plenary session
Plenary session
Plenary session is a term often used in conferences to define the part of the conference when all members of all parties are to attend.These sessions may contain a broad range of content from keynotes to panel discussions and are not necessarily related to a specific style of delivery.The term has...
s in the city for a brief period.
History
The provisional arrangement was reiterated on 8 April 1965 with the Decision on the provisional location of certain institutions and departments of the Communities. This was following the Merger TreatyMerger Treaty
The Merger Treaty was a European treaty which combined the executive bodies of the European Coal and Steel Community , European Atomic Energy Community and the European Economic Community into a single institutional structure.The treaty was signed in Brussels on 8 April 1965 and came into force...
, which combined the executives of the three Communities into a single institutional structure. However with the merged executives, the Commission and most departments were grouped together in Brussels, rather than Luxembourg. To compensate Luxembourg for the loss, the agreement granted a city the right to host a number bodies, including the Secretariat of the Assembly
Secretariat of the European Parliament
The secretariat of the European Parliament is the administrative body of the European Parliament headed by a Secretary-General. It is based in the Kirchberg district of Luxembourg and around the Brussels-Luxembourg Station in Brussels and employs 4000 officials.-Secretary-General:The Secretary...
(now of the Parliament).
Despite the 1965 agreement however, the Parliament's seat was a source of contention. Wishing to be closer to the activities in Brussels and Luxembourg, a few plenary sessions were held by the Parliament between 1967 and 1981 in Luxembourg instead of Strasbourg – against the wishes of France and in 1981 it returned to holding sessions entirely in Strasbourg.
Buildings
Secretariat of the European Parliament
The secretariat of the European Parliament is the administrative body of the European Parliament headed by a Secretary-General. It is based in the Kirchberg district of Luxembourg and around the Brussels-Luxembourg Station in Brussels and employs 4000 officials.-Secretary-General:The Secretary...
(employing over 4000 people), mostly based in the Kirchberg district
Kirchberg, Luxembourg
Kirchberg or the Kirchberg is a quarter in north-eastern Luxembourg City, in southern Luxembourg. It consists of a plateau situated to the north-east of the city centre, Ville Haute....
.
The buildings in use are the ones named after Robert Schuman
Robert Schuman
Robert Schuman was a noted Luxembourgish-born French statesman. Schuman was a Christian Democrat and an independent political thinker and activist...
(49.618176°N 6.140885°W) and Konrad Adenauer
Konrad Adenauer
Konrad Hermann Joseph Adenauer was a German statesman. He was the chancellor of the West Germany from 1949 to 1963. He is widely recognised as a person who led his country from the ruins of World War II to a powerful and prosperous nation that had forged close relations with old enemies France,...
(49.621686°N 6.146743°W) and most recently two new tower buildings (TOA and TOB) either side of Av. John F. Kennedy (49.619566°N 6.142956°W).
Some services are installed in the Gold Bell building (49.587175°N 6.113736°W) in the south of the city. The old hemicycle
Hemicycle (chamber)
In legislatures, a hemicycle is a term for a semicircular, or horseshoe shaped, debating chamber where deputies sit to discuss and pass legislation. Though composed of Greek roots, the term is French in origin...
in Luxembourg still exists despite no longer being used by the Parliament since 1981 (it is now the seat of the EFTA Court
EFTA Court
The Court of Justice of the European Free Trade Association States is a supranational judicial body responsible for the three EFTA members who are also members of the European Economic Area : Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.As members of the EEA, the three countries have access to the internal...
).
See also
- Seat of the European Parliament in StrasbourgSeat of the European Parliament in StrasbourgThe city of Strasbourg is the official seat of the European Parliament. The institution is legally bound to meet there twelve sessions a year lasting about four days each. Other work takes place in Brussels and Luxembourg City...
- Espace LéopoldEspace LéopoldThe Espace Léopold or is the complex of parliament buildings in Brussels housing the European Parliament, a legislative chamber of the European Union ....
- Alcide de Gasperi BuildingAlcide de Gasperi BuildingThe Alcide de Gasperi Building is a skyscraper in Luxembourg City, in southern Luxembourg. At tall and with 23 floors, it was the tallest building in Luxembourg. It is located in Kirchberg, in the north-east of the city....
External links
- Visiting Parliament EuroParl website
- Naming of the buildings EuroParl website
- Seat of the EP European Navigator