The European Parliament is back in Strasbourg this week and if history has any bearing, then many (if not most) MEPs will be absent during the heavily-scripted debates.
Some will complain they have too many meetings, which is entirely plausible. But I have also seen MEPs in Strasbourg city centre carrying shopping bags during plenary sessions.
Bas Eickhout, a Dutch Green MEP, offered an interesting solution to a problem that has bemused observers for well over a decade. Get rid of the MEPs.
Eickhout proposed that each political group designate a single representative to engage in hour-long (or slightly longer) debates with the European Commission on key policy issues.
Once over, other MEPs can make their one-minute speeches if they so choose.
