On July 19, 2023, the European Parliament approved the lease of the Osmose building in Strasbourg from the French government after a vote by the Budget Committee. The lease, which

spans 99 years, will cost the Parliament 700,000 euros annually, with France purchasing the building for 53.5 million euros.

The proposal to rent the new building, put forward by European Parliament President Roberta Metsola and the Bureau, was passed with 26 votes in favor, 11 against, and three abstentions. The decision has now been finalized and does not require further voting in a plenary session. The annual cost of the transaction is estimated to be around two million euros, solidifying the institution's presence in France.

The Osmose building, spanning 15,000 square meters, has remained unoccupied since its completion in 2021. Initially, Parliament intended to purchase the building, but the deal fell through. The acquisition aims to provide additional office space for the parliament's administration and services of the permanent representations and the Commission.

However, the operation has faced opposition from the Social Democratic group S&D, questioning the necessity for the additional building and expressing concerns over operational costs during times of budgetary constraints. Latvian Nils Usakovs accuses that the EU would need to spend an additional minimum of 10.3 million euros on furniture, security, and IT equipment before moving into the building.

Belgian liberal Olivier Chastel, who authored the report on the file in the committee, confirms a "global cost" of 1.9 million euros per year. He also warns against the possibility of rent escalation if the Parliament continues to solely lease the building and advocates for swift action towards its purchase.

While the EU treaty designates Strasbourg as the Parliament's official seat, most EU officials, MEPs, and parliamentary assistants spend the majority of their time in Brussels. Photo by Gzen92, Wikimedia commons.