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 It was announced - to the fury of MEPs who were seeking a public explanation, and to the dismay of the budgetary committee members who were not informed - that Mme Keller would not be going before the committee: instead she would visit the President of the European Parliament, Joseph Borrell, who in turn would take her to the so-called Bureau of the Parliament - the 14-man governing body - for a private meeting; MEPs would be "informed" of its outcome.
Amid cries of "whitewash" last night, the role of the French prime minister, Dominique de Villepin, became apparent. In a letter to Borrell, dated May 10, he wrote: "I share your hope that the disagreement [between the Parliament and the city of Strasbourg] should not damage the image of Strasbourg as the European capital, nor provide a chance for certain people to renew their argument about having the seat of the European Parliament there."
In the meantime, Monday sees the start of another of the year's 12 Strasbourg visits and so this afternoon in Brussels secretaries will
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| Amid cries of 'whitewash' last night, the role of the French prime minister, Dominique de Villepin, became apparent |
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be clearing their own and their bosses' desks of folders, Rolodexes - not to mention framed photos of Euro-partners holding Euro-babies - and packing them all into crates, ready for the caravan of trucks to leave for Alsace.
Next Thursday night they will do the same in reverse. In Euro-speak, the movement of all these people is known as "transhumance" - a term previously used for the seasonal movement of cattle to richer pastures. Among those who hope you'll sign the Malmstrom petition, it's called madness. 
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