Comments on: Thalys via Paris: it’s the planes and the second seat that are the real scandal http://www.jonworth.eu/thalys-to-paris-its-the-planes-and-the-second-seat-that-are-the-real-scandal/ At the intersection of the EU, UK politics and tech Sat, 11 Feb 2012 11:21:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Bruno http://www.jonworth.eu/thalys-to-paris-its-the-planes-and-the-second-seat-that-are-the-real-scandal/comment-page-1/#comment-118271 Bruno Mon, 02 Jun 2008 09:53:18 +0000 http://www.jonworth.eu/?p=1226#comment-118271 Jon You can be as snide as you like about my personal motives and alleged distress not be on the train. My point, however, was: "French officials hoped that a new train service could mean that Strasbourg could be spun as more environmentally friendly but the wheeze has only reinforced the irrationality and elitism that is at the heart of the EU." AND "Paris will present the new train, which will save just 2.5 per cent on the Parliament’s monthly travel budget of £161,000, as being a mark of an eco-friendly EU – two charter aircraft have cancelled. France needs to re-brand the Strasbourg seat of the European Parliament because it has become the example, par excellence, of the EU’s irrationality." "The seat, intended as a symbol of post-war Franco-German reconciliation, costs hundreds of millions every year to maintain. The lavish, modernist buildings as well as the bizarre "travelling circus" has become a showcase of the euro-elite’s in-your-face contempt for the public – most people (including Euro-MPs) think the Strasbourg seat is ludicrous." "The new train will underline that, reduced "carbon foot print" or not, the Strasbourg Parliament is a true symbol of an EU that is less of a public authority than a private convenience for officials that live in a different world from the people they govern. " I would agree with you, though not your moralising about air travel, when you say: "Every MEP, fonctionnaire, lobbyist should have access to a Thalys." My points were about Strasbourg and a lavish service for the few. On another issue if you want the details, internal documents, on MyParl.eu then do contact me. Jon

You can be as snide as you like about my personal motives and alleged distress not be on the train.

My point, however, was:

“French officials hoped that a new train service could mean that Strasbourg could be spun as more environmentally friendly but the wheeze has only reinforced the irrationality and elitism that is at the heart of the EU.”

AND

“Paris will present the new train, which will save just 2.5 per cent on the Parliament’s monthly travel budget of £161,000, as being a mark of an eco-friendly EU – two charter aircraft have cancelled. France needs to re-brand the Strasbourg seat of the European Parliament because it has become the example, par excellence, of the EU’s irrationality.”

“The seat, intended as a symbol of post-war Franco-German reconciliation, costs hundreds of millions every year to maintain. The lavish, modernist buildings as well as the bizarre “travelling circus” has become a showcase of the euro-elite’s in-your-face contempt for the public – most people (including Euro-MPs) think the Strasbourg seat is ludicrous.”

“The new train will underline that, reduced “carbon foot print” or not, the Strasbourg Parliament is a true symbol of an EU that is less of a public authority than a private convenience for officials that live in a different world from the people they govern. ”

I would agree with you, though not your moralising about air travel, when you say: “Every MEP, fonctionnaire, lobbyist should have access to a Thalys.”

My points were about Strasbourg and a lavish service for the few. On another issue if you want the details, internal documents, on MyParl.eu then do contact me.

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