The European Parliament has today voted with an overwhelming majority to move towards abolishing its second seat in Strasbourg.

Currently the European Parliament sits in Strasbourg for a few days every month, a situation estimated to cost €200m and produce 20,000 tonnes of CO2 per year.

Jean Lambert, the Green Party’s MEP for London, has long campaigned for a single seat for the EU parliament.

She said: “The time has come to end the costly spectacle of European Parliamentarians – and their staff – shuttling across Europe every month between Brussels and Strasbourg.

“Not only does the two seat system cost taxpayers millions of pounds but it also has a significant, and entirely unnecessary, impact on the environment.

The report adopted by MEPs today calls for the European Parliament to be given power to enact treaty changes such as changing its place of work. We’re moving ever closer to our goal of ending this travelling circus.”