Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2012-10-22-Speech-1-023-000"
| Predicate | Value (sorted: default) |
|---|---|
| rdf:type | |
| dcterms:Date | |
| dcterms:Is Part Of | |
| dcterms:Language | |
| lpv:document identification number |
"en.20121022.18.1-023-000"2
|
| lpv:hasSubsequent | |
| lpv:speaker | |
| lpv:spokenAs | |
| lpv:translated text |
"Ladies and gentlemen, as you know, the Conference of Presidents has decided to cancel the plenary sitting in Brussels in November. Let me briefly take this opportunity to inform you of the facts and the situation. As you all know, the ceiling of the Brussels Chamber has become unstable. During the inspections that take place on a regular basis, we found cracks in three out of 21 ceiling beams. On 31 August, I was informed that this could be dangerous. I therefore had the Chamber closed immediately. Let me add that, according to the first report submitted to us, the place most at risk in the Chamber was the President’s seat. So you can understand why I immediately took steps. Further investigations have shown that there is, indeed, serious structural damage, which in fact is not attributable to use of poor material or to sloppy building work but is clearly a question of material wear and tear, of a nature that was not foreseeable.
I have asked the Secretary-General to pull out all the stops and bring in every available expert. The Belgian Government – as I have informed the President, Mr Di Rupo – has brought in specialists from the Belgian Régie des Bâtiments to assist Parliament in making all the necessary decisions.
We are assuming that the repair work will take quite some time. Let me add one thing: we had to support the ceiling from within. However, the supports themselves are so heavy that the scaffolding that was erected to prop up the ceiling has also proved too heavy for the floor – so much so, in fact, that we also have to prop up the rooms below it and cannot use them. That is why we have cleared a number of areas below the Chamber.
In the next two weeks, solutions will be suggested and two internationally renowned, state-recognised inspectorates will be drawing up a safety report on the proposed solutions. I do not know when we will be able to re-open the Chamber in Brussels. I can tell you, however, that experience shows that this kind of building work can take quite some time.
In spite of these difficult circumstances, we are carrying on with our activities. I have also invited the Federal Chancellor, Angela Merkel, who was after all billed to speak at the short part-session in November, to come to Parliament in spite of this, to attend an open Conference of Presidents. The Group of the European People’s Party (Christian Democrats) has – what a surprise – happily agreed to make its meeting room available to Ms Merkel because it is the largest one apart from the Chamber. That is where we will be holding an open Conference of Presidents, at which basically the procedure will be the same as it would be for the Chancellor’s speech in plenary. I have agreed this with Ms Merkel.
Another brief reminder, ladies and gentlemen. I have written to you – I cannot remember how often over the past few months – and I hope you have all read the letters, about a photo session we will be holding here tomorrow morning at 12.30. A few minutes before the voting begins, there will be a 360-degree photo giving a panoramic 3D view of the Chamber with Members in their seats. You will remember that I have written to you about this several times and on several occasions. I was told, however, that some Members say they never received a letter from me. I do not believe this and think it more likely that they never read the letter. So, for all those who have not opened their mail, whether in real life or on their computer, tomorrow at 12.25 we will be setting up a 3D-360-degree camera here, which will photograph you all, and after that we will be putting the portraits of you in your seats on the internet so that every voter and every interested party will be able immediately to recognise the individual Members."@en1
|
| lpv:unclassifiedMetadata | |
| lpv:videoURI |
Named graphs describing this resource:
The resource appears as object in 2 triples